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.
Glaphyropoma spinosum is a troglobitic species of fish that inhabits acidic freshwater in remote karst environments of the tropical semi-arid Diamantina Plateau in Bahia State, Brazil. Little is currently known about this species beyond its morphology, its phototactic behavior, and the unique physiochemical properties of its native subterranean environment. To date, only a few specimens have been collected and removed from caves here for limited studies conducted elsewhere in Brazil. The most likely risk this species may pose to the contiguous United States is if it would ever prove to be invasive (and/or a vector for a serious pathogenic disease) and escape
(or be released) in Florida where karst terrain is common (FSS 2011) and a tropical climate may permit G. spinosum (or its associated disease pathogens) to persist or thrive. Due to uncertainties like these and the tropical climate inhabited by this species in its native range, state authorities currently consider G. spinosum dangerous to the ecology and/or the health and welfare of the people of Florida where personal possession or commercial use of this species is prohibited by law (FFWCC 2016). Climate match to the contiguous U.S. as a whole is low. Overall risk posed by this species is uncertain.
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Uncertain Risk
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