Record and establishment of the non-native loricariid catfish genus pterygoplichthys (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) in the coastal plain of San Blas, Nayarit, southeast Gulf of California, Mexico

Abstract

The establishment of non-native Loricariid catfish (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) of the genus Pterygoplichthys, in the Coastal Plain of San Blas, Nayarit, Southeast Gulf of California was reported. According to the morphological taxonomy and abdomi-nal patterns, the specimens are closely related to the hybrid forms of P. pardalis x P. disjunctivus. In addition, the evidence of its establishment in the study area is presented. The individuals were captured along the Mololoa River micro-basin, on the left bank of the lower Santiago river basin, in front of Matanchen Bay in addition to one in front of the sea beach at the mouth of the Santiago River. The mean length and weight of the fish caught from 2013 to 2016 were 25.2 ± 2.2 cm and 123.2 ± 27.9 g. In the study area, uncontrolled propagation of this genus can jeopardize the diversity of fauna on the left bank of the Santiago river and the National Marsh ecosystem in the coastal plain of Nayarit, Mexico.