List of introduced fish in Sri Lanka

























Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated close to the southern tip of India. It is situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean. This is a partial list of fish species introduced to Sri Lanka.




Contents






  • 1 Class: Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes


    • 1.1 Order: Cypriniformes


      • 1.1.1 Family: Cyprinidae - Carps and allies




    • 1.2 Order: Salmoniformes - Salmons


      • 1.2.1 Family: Salmonidae




    • 1.3 Order: Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps


      • 1.3.1 Family: Poeciliidae - Guppy and swordtails




    • 1.4 Order: Perciformes


      • 1.4.1 Family: Cichlidae - Cichlids


      • 1.4.2 Family: Osphronemidae - Gouramis


      • 1.4.3 Family: Helostomatidae - Kissing gouramis




    • 1.5 Order: Siluriformes - Catfishes


      • 1.5.1 Family: Loricariidae - Suckermouth fishes




    • 1.6 Order: Osteoglossiformes - Bony tongues


      • 1.6.1 Family: Notopteridae - Knifefishes






  • 2 References





Class: Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes


Since Sri Lanka was ruled by Portuguese, Dutch, and British, they began introducing a number of exotic species including mammals, plants, birds and fish. After independence the introductions continued unabated, and the breeding of exotic aquarium fish for export became popular. The deliberate or accidental introduction of exotic fish into has led to serious ecological damage because they disrupt ecosystems, and reduce the diversity of endemic fish to the degree of causing extinction. Invasive introduced exotic fish such as the Sail-fin pleco also cause economic damage by reducing the amount of local fish caught by fishermen while themselves being of no or little economical value. Most of the invasive exotic fish were originally brought for commercial purposes, mainly as aquarium fish and for food. Invasive fish in Sri Lanka are a serious issue.




An introduced, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its native distributional range, which has arrived there by human activity, either deliberate or accidental. Non-native species can have various effects on the local ecosystem. Introduced species that become established and spread beyond the place of introduction are called invasive species. Some have a negative effect on a local ecosystem. Some introduced species may have no negative effect or only minor impact. Some species have been introduced intentionally to combat pests.


There are 24 introduced fish species which inhabit all freshwater, brackish water and marine waters.



Order: Cypriniformes



Family: Cyprinidae - Carps and allies


Cyprinids are stomachless fish with toothless jaws. Even so, food can be effectively chewed by the gill rakers of the specialized last gill bow.

























































Name
Binomial
Status
Image

Bighead carp

Hypophthalmichthys nobilis


Tolstolobec pestrý.jpg

Goldfish

Carassius auratus


Goldfish3.jpg

Indian carp

Catla catla


Catla catla.JPG

Grass carp

Ctenopharyngodon idella


2x amur bílý.jpg

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio


Cyprinus carpio.jpeg

Silver carp

Hypophthalmichthys molitrix


Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Hungary.jpg

Mrigal carp

Cirrhinus mrigala


Cirrhinus cirrhosus.jpg

Rohu

Labeo rohita


Labeo rohita.JPG


Order: Salmoniformes - Salmons



Family: Salmonidae


All salmonids spawn in fresh water, but in many cases, the fish spend most of their lives at sea, returning to the rivers only to reproduce. This lifecycle is described as anadromous. They are slender fish, with rounded scales and forked tails.















Name
Binomial
Status
Image

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss
invasive

Female Rainbow Trout in hand.JPG


Order: Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps



Family: Poeciliidae - Guppy and swordtails


They are extensively used for mosquito control, poeciliids can today be found in all tropical and subtropical areas of the world.

































Name
Binomial
Status
Image

Mosquitofish

Gambusia affinis


Mosquitofish.jpg

Guppy

Poecilia reticulata


Guppy coppia gialla.jpg

Green swordtail

Xiphophorus hellerii


Xiphophorus helleri Annanasschwerttaeger Maennchen.JPG

Common platy

Xiphophorus maculatus


Rainbow wag platy.jpg


Order: Perciformes



Family: Cichlidae - Cichlids


Cichlids are popular freshwater fish kept in the home aquarium. Cichlids tend to be of medium size, ovate in shape, and slightly laterally compressed, and generally similar to the North American sunfishes in morphology, behavior, and ecology.





































Name
Binomial
Status
Image

Redbreast tilapia

Coptodon rendalli


Tilapia rendalli.jpg

Nile tilapia

Oreochromis niloticus


Oreochromis-niloticus-Nairobi.JPG

Mossambique tilapia

Oreochromis mossambicus


Oreochromis mossambicus.JPG

Wami tilapia

Oreochromis urolepis


Redbelly tilapia

Tilapia zillii



Family: Osphronemidae - Gouramis


Many gouramis have an elongated, feeler-like ray at the front of each of their pelvic fins. Many species show parental care: some are mouthbrooders.



























Name
Binomial
Status
Image

Snakeskin gourami

Trichopodus pectoralis


Snakeskin gourami.jpg

Three spot gourami

Trichopodus trichopterus


Female Opaline Gourami.jpg

Giant gourami

Osphronemus goramy


Osphronemus Gourami (better).png


Family: Helostomatidae - Kissing gouramis


Single species is known. The kissing gourami is a popular aquarium fish.















Name
Binomial
Status
Image

Kissing gourami

Helostoma temminckii


Kissfish.jpg


Order: Siluriformes - Catfishes



Family: Loricariidae - Suckermouth fishes


These fish are noted for the bony plates covering their bodies and their suckermouths. They are popular as aquarium fish.















Name
Binomial
Status
Image

Sail-fin pleco

Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus


Liposarcus multiradiatus 01 ssj 20050321.jpg


Order: Osteoglossiformes - Bony tongues



Family: Notopteridae - Knifefishes


Known as knifefish or featherbacks, have slender, elongated, bodies, giving them a knife-like appearance. The caudal fin is small and fused with the anal fin, which runs most of the length of the body. Where present, the dorsal fin is small and narrow, giving rise to the common name of "featherback".















Name
Binomial
Status
Image

Clown knifefish

Chitala ornata
invasive

Chitala ornata.jpg


References



  • http://biodiversityofsrilanka.blogspot.com/p/freshwater-fish-diversity-of-sri-lanka_29.html

  • http://www.fish.lk/

  • http://www.environmentmin.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/freshwater%20fish.pdf

  • http://www.multifishlanka.com/brackish-water-fish.html

  • http://www.naqda.gov.lk/brackish_water.php

  • https://www.scribd.com/doc/15883696/fisheries-and-fish-sp-in-sri-lanka

  • http://www.sundaytimes.lk/030615/funday/2.html

  • http://www.ceylontoday.lk/18-19330-news-detail-invasive-aliens.html









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