Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Chichlasoma zarskei (a fish, no common name) - 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.

Cichlasoma zarskei is a cichlid native to northern Brazil. This species was not recognized until recently (Ottoni 2011), and so there is very little information available on its biology, distribution, or potential invasiveness. Climate match with the contiguous United States is low, but confidence in the locations of the source points used for the climate match is also low. History of invasiveness is uncertain due to uncertainty about the species’ distribution and no reports of this species being introduced outside of its native range. Overall risk for C. zarskei is Uncertain.