Species that are considered high risk have a well-documented history of invasiveness in at least one location globally, and a high or medium climate match to the contiguous United States.
The Mayan Cichlid (Mayaheros urophthalmus) is a medium sized cichlid native to the Atlantic drainages of Central America. Mayaheros urophthalmus is a popular ornamental and food fish. This species is tolerant to a wide range of salinity and temperature. The history of invasiveness is high. M. urophthalmus has become established in multiple new locations creating negative impacts for native species such as: competition for food and space, nest predation, behavioral modification, and potentially transmitting Aphanomyces invadans, which is an OIE-reportable disease. The Mayan Cichlid has already successfully invaded Florida, where it continues to disperse. The climate match for the contiguous United States is medium, with Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina having high individual climate scores. The certainty of assessment is high. The overall risk assessment category for Mayaheros urophthalmus is high.
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High Risk
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