A fish mortality episode reveals the expansion of invasive mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus (L., 1766) in southern Spain

Francisco Blanco-Garrido and Miguel Clavero

FiSHMED 2016.002:6p.

Abstract – The mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus, a cyprinodontiform species native to the Atlantic coast of North America, was apparently introduced to southern Iberian Peninsula in the early 1970s, if not earlier. Until now, the Barbate marshes constituted the southern limit of the species in the Iberian Peninsula. However, a fish mortality event promoted by an anoxia episode in the Cachón River (July 31st-August 4th 2016) revealed a southward expansion of the species from its known southern limit. It is not known whether the mummichog has already occupied other potentially suitable habitats south to the Cachón River, but this should be of concern, since it could threaten the unique populations of some native fish species in the area.

Keywords : expansion, cyprinodontiform, Iberian Peninsula, Invasive species, tidal creeks, tidal marshes

Citation : Blanco-Garrido F, Clavero M (2016) A fish mortality episode reveals the expansion of invasive mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus (L., 1766) in southern Spain. FISHMED Fishes in Mediterranean Environments 2016.002: 6p. https://doi.org/10.29094/FiSHMED.2016.002

Article first published online : 11 January 2017

FiSHMED is an international scientific journal edited by 
the Iberian Society of Ichthyology – SIBIC