Learn & Explore/Species/Introduced & Invasive/Suckermouth Catfish

Suckermouth Catfish

Category: Invasive

An invasive catfish that erodes riverbanks and harms native species.

Suckermouth Catfish (Hypostomus plecostomus)

  • Grows up to 50 cm, body covered in armored plates  2

  • Popular ornamental fish native to northern South America 2

Suckermouth Catfish

Habitat

  • Prefers quiet, slow moving waters 1

  • In the US, introduced populations reside in shallow areas of lakes, rivers, and reservoirs 2

Impacts & Concern

  • Compete for food and space with native species due to abundance  1

  • Create burrows which cause increased erosion and sedimentation  2

Introduction

Introduced to Hawaiʻi through aquarium release 1

Distribution in Hawai‘i

  • Kauaʻi: Not documented

  • O‘ahu: Present

  • Molokaʻi: Not documented

  • Lānaʻi: Not documented

  • Maui: Present in Kanahā Pond

  • Hawaiʻi Island: Not documented

References and Further Reading

  1. Neilson, M.E. (2021) Hypostomus sp. (watwata group): U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL. https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=763

  2. CABI, 2021. Hypostomus plecostomus. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/114927

Other Introduced & Invasive

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Marine

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Freshwater

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Brackish

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Seaweed/Algae