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| NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species |
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Common Name: metynnis
Taxonomy: available through 
Identification: The genus Metynnis is in great need of systematic revision. One of the few available keys was given by Géry (1977). According to Géry, the M. lippincottianus-maculatus complex seems to comprise several different forms that could represent subspecies or sibling species. A possible synonym is M. roosevelti, a name commonly used by aquarists (Géry 1977). Although members of the genus Metynnis are characterized by their long-based adipose fins, those belonging to the M. lippincottianus-maculatus complex superficially resemble young pacus (i.e., Colossoma and Piaractus species) as well as certain piranha species. Photographs of several Metynnis species appeared in Axelrod et al. (1985) and Sakurai et al. (1993).
Size: 12 cm.
Native Range:
Tropical America. Metynnis species are found throughout much of tropical South America (e.g., in the Orinoco and Amazon basins). The M. lippincottianus-maculatus complex is native to Guaporé and Amazon basin (Géry 1977).
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Interactive maps: Continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, Caribbean
Nonindigenous Occurrences: A member of this genus has been reported in Florida from an unspecified locality (listed as Metynnis lippincotianus in Courtenay et al. 1984; listed as Metynnis sp. in Courtenay and Stauffer 1990, and in Courtenay et al. 1991). A reproducing population was found in Halpatiokee Regional Park Conservation Area in Martin County in 2005 (Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission 2009). In Kentucky, a single fish (originally identified as a piranha and as Metynnis roosevelti) was taken by hook and line from Lighthouse Lake, Louisville, Jefferson County, in the summer of 1981 (Anonymous 1981; Fossett 1981).
Means of Introduction: Records mostly likely represent aquarium releases.
Status:
Reported from Kentucky. Established in Florida.
Impact of Introduction: Unknown.
Remarks:
Several Metynnis species are popular aquarium fishes. There is considerable confusion surrounding the Kentucky record. In original published accounts, the fish was identified as a piranha, but the scientific name provided was Metynnis roosevelti (= Metynnis maculatus). However, in a photograph of the fish accompanying the newspaper article (Fossett 1981), the specimen actually appears to have a short adipose fin and is probably a pacu, possibly Piaractus brachypomus. The collectors gave the live fish to the Louisville Zoo, where it was kept in aquaria; when the fish later died, it was supposedly not preserved. The Kentucky specimen has been the basis for inclusion of the species in published lists of nonestablished foreign species, with earlier listings identifying it as Metynnis roosevelti (e.g., Courtenay et al. 1984) and later simply as Metynnis sp. (i.e., Courtenay and Stauffer 1990; Courtenay et al. 1991).
Anonymous. 1981. Piranha caught in Kentucky. Pet Business 7(11):33.
Axelrod, H. R., W. E. Burgess, N. Pronek, and J. G. Walls. 1985. Dr. Axelrod's atlas of freshwater aquarium fishes. Tropical Fish Hobbyist Publications, Inc., Neptune City, NJ.
Courtenay, W. R., Jr., D. P. Jennings, and J. D. Williams. 1991. Appendix 2: exotic fishes. Pages 97-107 in Robins, C. R., R. M. Bailey, C. E. Bond, J. R. Brooker, E. A. Lachner, R. N. Lea, and W. B. Scott. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada, 5th edition. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 20. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD.
Courtenay, W. R., Jr., and J. R. Stauffer, Jr., editors. 1984. Distribution, biology and management of exotic fishes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD.
Courtenay, W. R., Jr., and J. R. Stauffer, Jr.. 1990. The introduced fish problem and the aquarium fish industry. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 21(3):145-159.
Fossett, J. 1981. Here's one that didn't get away. The Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY. 19 June 1981.
Géry, J. 1977. Characoids of the world. Tropical Fish Hobbyist Publications, Inc., Neptune City, NJ.
Other Resources:
FishBase Fact Sheet
Author: Leo Nico and Pam Fuller
Revision Date: 4/15/2009 Citation for this information:
Leo Nico and Pam Fuller. 2010. Metynnis sp.. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL.
<http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=423> Revision Date: 4/15/2009
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