Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Barcoo Grunter (Scortum barcoo) - Uncertain Risk

Species that are considered uncertain risk need a more in-depth assessment beyond the Risk Summary to better define the species’ risk to U.S. environments.

Scortum barcoo is a freshwater fish species native to Australia. S. barcoo adults occur in lentic and lotic freshwater systems. They inhabit turbid water of large rivers and waterholes. The species is tolerant of water temperatures to 40°C. It is omnivorous and feeds on fishes, crustaceans, insects and mollusks. It is presumed to breed opportunistically during flood events. S. barcoo was reported as introduced from Australia to China in 2001 within aquaculture facilities within the country. Translocations within Australia have also occurred, but very little information is available on these events or their results. More information is needed to evaluate the potential and actual impacts the species would have in introduced areas. Climate match within the contiguous United States is medium, with Texas, Arizona, and parts of Florida representing high match areas. More information is needed to fully understand the impacts from introductions of this species. Absence of this research makes the certainty of this assessment low. Overall risk posed by this species is uncertain at this time.