Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Pond Loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) - Uncertain Risk

Species that are considered uncertain risk need a more in-depth assessment beyond the Ecological Risk Screening Summary to better define the species’ risk to U.S. environments.

Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, Pond Loach, is a fish that is native to eastern Asia. This species can breathe through its skin and intestines, enabling it to survive through droughts and in low-oxygen environments. It is used globally as an aquarium fish and also used for aquaculture for human consumption, angling bait, and in traditional Chinese medicine. Its possession, trade, or transport is regulated in at least seven U.S. states. The History of Invasiveness for Misgurnus anguillicaudatus is classified as Data Deficient. The species has a long history of being introduced to new locations around the world and has established successful nonnative populations in North America, Europe, and Oceania. Although a mesocosm experiment demonstrated impacts to macroinvertebrate populations and water quality in the presence of M. anguillicaudatus, data on impacts within natural systems are limited. The climate matching analysis for the contiguous United States indicates establishment concern for this species. The areas with the greatest extent of high climate match included the Great Basin, Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast regions, although all regions within the contiguous United States had mostly high climate match. The Certainty of Assessment for this ERSS is classified as Low due to the limited information available on impacts of introduction. The Overall Risk Assessment Category for Misgurnus anguillicaudatus in the contiguous United States is Uncertain.