Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Blue Peacock Bass (Cichla piquiti) - 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. This additional information will help inform decisions on where, when, and how the species may be used to minimize risks of them becoming invasive.

Blue Peacock Bass (Cichla piquiti) is a fish native to the Tocantins River Basin in Brazil that has been translocated into the Paraná River basin in Brazil and Paraguay, where it has established populations and spread. Resende et al. (2008) observed no negative effects on native fish in the Paraguay River (part of the Paraná River basin). C. piquiti reportedly hybridized with another nonnative species in the Paraná River basin (Almeida-Ferreira et al. 2011), although hybridization with native species has not been reported. Despite the lack of impacts reported above, other authors suggest C. piquiti is highly adaptable and capable of negative impacts to habitat and native species where introduced. Until more rigorous scientific studies are completed to confirm whether or not C. piquiti has negative impacts in at least some locations of introduction, the history of invasiveness is classified as “none documented” and the certainty of the assessment is low. C. piquiti is a major game fish used for human consumption and is found in the aquarium trade in the United States. A survey in the Paraná River found eight parasitic taxa on C. piquiti. C. piquiti has a medium climate match with the contiguous United States. Florida had the highest match, with a high match in southern Florida and a medium match in northern Florida. The Texas coast and Georgia had areas of medium match. The remainder of the contiguous United States had a low match. The overall risk is uncertain.