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Re: Rivulus cylindraceus in Florida
>I´ve read, that exist a natural population of Rivulus cylindraceus. Is this
true?
I've read that from time to time also. However a peak in Huber's REVIEW
OF RIVULUS, ECOBIOGEOGRAPHY - RELATIONSHIPS offers an explaination. Both
cylindraceus, described by Poey in 1860 and marmoratus (or if you prefer,
the less often used occellatus Hensel, 1868 - but Ken Lazara and others have
petitioned for the acceptance of the much more often used marmoratus), also
described by Poey using Cuban fishes in 1880, were described from mostly
female specimens. An American Ichthyologist named Garman, using what Huber
feels were not the original type material, in 1895 concluded that the two
fishes (the Cuban Rivulus and the Mangrove Rivulus) were the same species.
Scientists off and on have continued throughout the first half of the 19th
century to accept his conclusions. This has been reflected in the popular
literature.
Huber notes that Rivas questioned this conclusion in 1945 and the AKA's
own Al Klee wrote an article in 1962 also supporting the separation of the
species. Scheel also took a look at their Karoyypes in 1963. I hope I have
properly represented a part of what Dr. Huber is saying. Check out his
entries under those fishes for more details.
Harry is correct in suggesting that Cylindraceus probably could survive
in South Florida (if they were not devoured by an exotic catfish or an Asian
swamp eel). One of the North America native net sites (probably either
NANFA or NFC) or one of their links lists the exotics in Florida. I seem to
remember mention of an exotic Rivulus on their list. Killies have even been
introduced to other waters for mosquito control, with not a lot of
effectiveness but little of the damage wrought by Gambusia (the damnbusina
of the desert fishes people) or guppies. While the record of exotic killie
releases is much more benign that those of catfish, cichlids, livebearers,
sunfishes and so on, I would not want to be the person responsible for
releasing American flag fish in Australia.
One of the more successful plants of killies as a matter of fact was of
Fundulus (heteroclitus?) off the west coast of Spain, where it evidentally
was released by the flushing of ballast tanks of ships from North America.
Originally described as a new European killie (as some sort of Valencia -
the articles aren't at hand), JAKA several years ago carried a couple of
submissions sorting out how it was really an exotic. I seem to remember
concern that that American killie might even represent a threat (as if the
Gambusia were not enough) to Aphanius iberus and Valencia hispanica.
With Aphanius dispar (the Arabian killifish) booging into the
Mediterranean via the Suez canal there will be more confusion among Aphanius
because of mankind's projects. I seem to remember mention made of that
species crossing with Aphanius fasciatus. We hear all the time exhortations
to keep Pupfish, Aphyosemion, Fundulopanchax and Nothobranchius strains pure
and separate. The time has come when that refrain must be echoed with all
killies.
All the best,
Scott