Abundance of Sailfin Armoured Catfishes Pterygoplichthys sp. (Loricariidae), African Catfish Clarias gariepinus (Clariidae) and Tilapia Oreochromis sp. (Cichlidae) in Open Waterbodies of Mahabubnagar District, Telangana State, India

Abstract

Non-native fish species, particularly Pterygoplichthys sp., Clarias gariepinus, and Oreochromis sp., have been introduced into many regions outside their native ranges for various purposes. The rapid spread and establishment of invasive populations, recently reported in certain open waterbodies of Mahabubnagar district, Telangana, are of increasing concern because of their adverse effects on commercial fisheries. To assess the current invasion status and impact dynamics of these exotic species in four selected open waterbodies (Tankara- Peddacheruvu tank, Buddaram- Gudemcheruvu tank, Ibrahimbad- Hemasamudram tank, and Tirmalagiri- Shankarasamudram tank) a 12-month field survey was conducted from April 2025 to March 2026. Fish-catch data for sailfin armoured catfish, African catfish, tilapia, and other commercially cultured major carps were obtained during harvesting from the selected waterbodies. Catch composition at the landing centres was analysed, and the harvested fish were graded by species and size. The results showed high relative abundance (RA) values for sailfin armoured catfish (24.92%), tilapia (10.72%), and African catfish (4.71%), whose established populations affected cultured carp species during the study period. These findings provide evidence of the successful invasion of sailfin armoured catfish, tilapia, and African catfish. The study highlights the need for appropriate measures to support effective planning for native commercial carp production. The data generated indicate that exotic species pose a serious threat to native fish biota and cause substantial economic losses to fishing communities.