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.
Belonesox belizanus, commonly known as the pike killifish, is a freshwater species native to Central America. This piscivorous species prefers the surface waters of slow-flowing freshwater systems where it can feed on poeciliid and cyprinodontoid populations, but is euryhaline and can thrive in brackish environments. Introductions into south Florida waters included specimens released from medical research facilities, escapees from aquaculture farms, and aquarium releases. B. belizanus now thrives in several water systems within southern Florida. These populations have negatively impacted native poeciliid and cyprinodontoid abundances, which has also seriously impaired the natural control of mosquitoes in southern Florida. Climate match within the contiguous United States was medium, with Florida and southern Georgia representing high match areas. However, “due to the temperature restrictions of suitable habitat in northern Florida and elsewhere in the USA, it is reasonable to conclude that B. belizanus may remain restricted to southern Florida” (CABI 2018). Given the history of negative impacts of introduction and the medium overall climate match to the contiguous United States, the overall risk assessment category for B. belizanus is high.
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High Risk
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