First Record of a Feral population of Exotic Green Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) with an Additional Record of Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) in Turkish freshwaters

Abstract

Livebearer poeciliids, with few exceptions, are among the most popular and highly traded ornamental fish species. Therefore, they are frequently introduced to natural waters outside their native range mostly by the aquarium hobbyists. Here we report feral populations of two exotic poecilid species, the swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) and the guppy (Poecilia reticulata), established in a hot spring in the Eastern Turkey. This is the first documented record of swordtail in Turkey and possibly the first records of the two species in the wider Euphrates Basin. More research is needed to address the potential impacts of these two poecilids on the native biota, and also their further spread chance and management options.

Keywords

• Aquarium fish
• alien species
• establishment
• Euphrates Basin

Türkiye Tatlısularında Egzotik Yeşil Kılıçkuyruk(Xiphophorus hellerii)’nin İlk ve Lepistes (Poecilia reticulata)’nın İlave Kaydı

Abstract

Canlı doğuran poeciliidler, birkaç istisna dışında en popüler ve en çok ticareti yapılan süs balığı türleri arasında yer almaktadır. Dolayısıyla, bu türler genellikle akvaryum meraklıları tarafından kendi doğal alanlarının dışındaki doğal sularla sıklıkla taşınmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, Türkiye'nin doğusunda bir sıcaksu kaynağında iki egzotik poecilid türü, kılıçkuyruk (Xiphophorus hellerii) ve lepistesin (Poecilia reticulata)’nın yabani popülasyonları kaydedilmiştir. Bu, Türkiye'deki belgelenmiş ilk kılıçkuyruk kaydı olup, muhtemelen belirtilen iki türün Fırat Havzası'ndaki ilk kayıtlarıdır. Bu iki poeciliid türünün doğal biyota üzerindeki potansiyel etkilerini belirlemek, ayrıca yayılma şanslarını ve yönetim seçeneklerini ele almak için daha fazla araştırmaya ihtiyaç vardır.

Keywords

• Akvaryum balığı
• yabancı tür
• yerleşme
• Fırat Havzası

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