Genetic Characterization of Non-Native African Jewelfish, Hemichromis letourneuxi Sauvage 1880, in Florida

Southeastern Naturalist
By:  and 

Links

Abstract

The African Jewelfish, Hemichromis letourneuxi, is an invasive, predatory cichlid fish introduced at least once to Florida. Its native range is in northern Africa. First encountered in Miami in the 1960s, it has since been found west and north within the State of Florida. It thrives in a wide range of aquatic habitats, including shallow, vegetated or rocky areas of canals, tidal creeks, rivers, and marshes. We generated mitochondrial DNA sequences from 6 Florida localities, and 1 Mexico population. The resulting tree describes recent historical relationships among populations. Nearly all Florida populations of African Jewelfish are intermixed, supporting a single invasion, with one possible exception: samples from the Tampa Bay locality are distinct and may represent a separate introduction. Samples obtained from the Mexico locality, previously identified as Hemichromis guttatus (Spotted Jewelfish), appear to be genetically identical to, and indistinguishable from the H. letourneuxi sampled in Florida localities.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Genetic Characterization of Non-Native African Jewelfish, Hemichromis letourneuxi Sauvage 1880, in Florida
Series title Southeastern Naturalist
DOI 10.1656/058.018.0406
Volume 18
Issue 4
Year Published 2019
Language English
Publisher BioOne
Contributing office(s) Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Description 10 p.
First page 561
Last page 570
Country Mexico, United States
State Florida
County Indian River
City Cuatro Cienegas, Miami, Tampa Bay
Other Geospatial Archibold Biology Station, Big Cypress National Preserve. Corkscrew Swamp
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details