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.
Clown knifefish (Chitala chitala) is a fish native to Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Adults inhabit freshwater rivers, lakes, beels, nullahs in the plains, reservoirs, canals and ponds. They are also a popular aquarium and sport fish. The history of invasiveness is None Documented. It has been reported as introduced to Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Myanmar, and China, and become established in Sri Lanka. Potential impacts may occur as a result of predation but there has been no scientifically defensible documentation of this. The overall climate match for the contiguous United States was low. The certainty of assessment is low. There were some areas of medium match along the southern border and in southeast Florida; there were no areas of high match. The overall risk assessment category for Chitala chitala is uncertain.
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Uncertain Risk
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