Species that are considered low risk present a minimal risk of invasiveness because the climate where they are established is sufficiently different from the United States climate AND there is no evidence of invasiveness globally.
Osteoglossum bicirrhosum, the Arawana, is a freshwater fish native to northern South America (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, and Peru). This species is heavily traded in the aquarium industry, which is likely what led to multiple introductions in the United States, Poland, China, and the Philippines. O. bicirrhosum is regulated in Hawaii, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. Impacts of these introductions are unknown. Despite the multiple introductions, O. bicirrhosum has yet to become established outside of its native range. The history of invasiveness is therefore classified as Low. Overall climate match with the contiguous United States was Low with small patches of medium match in the Southeast. Adequate information was available pertaining to the biology, distribution, and trade status of this species resulting in a Medium level of certainty for this assessment. The overall risk assessment category for Osteoglossum bicirrhosum is Low.
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Low Risk
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