AMAZON SAILFIN CATFISH, PTERYGOPLICHTHYS PARDALIS (CASTELNAU, 1855) (LORICARIIDAE), ANOTHER EXOTIC SPECIES ESTABLISHED IN SOUTHEASTERN MEXICO

The exotic suckermouth armored catfishes are known to be established in Mexico. Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus is established in Campeche, Chiapas, and localities in central and western Mexico. We report the first record of another suckermouth armored catfish established in southeastern Mexico. We captured 7 specimens of Pterygoplichthys pardalis in a freshwater pond near Frontera, Tabasco, on 8 January 2005. Additional records in this region indicated that P. pardalis was spreading in the upper Grijalva-Usumacinta River basin. Further sampling and monitoring is required to assess the ecological impacts of this exotic species on the native fauna.