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.
Labeobarbus aeneus, the Smallmouth Yellowfish, is a freshwater cyprinid fish species native to the Orange-Vaal River system, which covers a large portion of South Africa. It is an important species to commercial, subsistence, and recreational fisheries. It has been translocated outside of its range by multiple inter-basin water transfer systems. Negative impacts of its translocation include predation of a range-restricted endangered small fish species and hybridization with other Labeobarbus species. L. aeneus has a high climate match with the contiguous United States, especially in the Southwest. The certainty of this assessment is High because negative impacts of this species’ introduction have been credibly reported on in scientific literature. Overall risk assessment category is High.
Publication date
Type of document
High Risk
Program
