Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Cichlasoma dimerus (a cichlid, 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 dimerus is a cichlid species native to the Paraná and Paraguay Rivers in central South America. It is not considered colorful or interesting for the aquarium trade but has been useful for laboratory studies. There is no information available on this species’ trade status in the United States. It has never been reported as introduced to the United States or anywhere else outside of its native range. C. dimerus has a medium climate match with the contiguous United States. The southeastern United States had a generally medium to high climate match. Although the biology and range of this species are well-known, there is no information available about this species’ invasiveness because it has not been reported as introduced outside its native range. Certainty of this assessment is therefore low. The overall risk assessment category is uncertain.