A successful case of biological invasion: the fish Cichla piquiti, an Amazonian species introduced into the Pantanal, Brazil

The tucunare. Cichla piquili. an exotic Amazonian fish has become established along the left bank of the Paraguay River in the Pantanal. It was introduced by escaping from culture ponds in the Upper Piquiri Rivet and spread down-stream. along the lateral flooded areas of that river, continuing through the clear waters of the left bank of the Paraguay River and reaching South as far as the Paraguai Mirim and Nerinho rivers. Adult spawners have been found in the region. meaning, that it is a self-sustained Population. Reproduction occurs in the period of low waters. They were found feeding, oil fishes of lentic environments belonging to the families Characidae, Cichlidae and Loricariidae. Until the end of 2004, its distribution was restricted to the left bank of the Paraguay River, but in March 2005, some specimens were found oil the right bank, raising a question for the future: what will be the distribution area of the tucunare in the Pantanal? Information about its dispersion is increasing: it is known to be in the Tuiuiu Lake, Pantanal National Park and in the Bolivian Pantanal, all of them on the right bank of the Paraguay River. The hypothesis that the could not cross turbid waters, such as in the Paraguay River, was refuted by these recent findings. Possibly, the tucunare's capacity to lay more than one batch of eggs a reproductive period, as well as its care of eggs and young, lead them to establish themselves Successfully ill new environments, as has been observed in the Pantanal and other localities.