Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Orange River Mudfish (Labeo capensis) - 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.

Labeo capensis, Orange River Mudfish, is a freshwater fish native to the Orange-Vaal river system in southern Africa. This species has been translocated within South Africa through inter-basin water transfers, and has successfully established outside its native range. Potential, although as yet unproven, impacts of L. capensis introduction include competition, hybridization, and parasite transmission. History of invasiveness is “None Documented.” This species is a gamefish and an experimental aquaculture species. The climate match analysis resulted in a high match for the contiguous United States with the highest matches found in the Southwest. Certainty of this assessment is low because of a lack of reliable documentation of impacts of introduction. The overall risk posed by L. capensis to the contiguous United States is uncertain.