Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Malapterurus barbatus (a catfish, 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.

Malapterurus barbatus is an electric catfish native to western coastal regions of Africa. The species is used in the aquarium trade but there was no information regarding trade of this species in the United States. The history of invasiveness is uncertain. No records of introductions were found. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has listed M. barbatus as a prohibited species. The climate match with the contiguous United States is low, and there were no areas of medium or high match. The certainty of assessment is low; the overall risk assessment category is uncertain.