Common name: trahira

Synonyms and Other Names: guabina, traira, South American snakehead, tigerfish, tiger characin, tararura, haimara, wolf fish.

Taxonomy: available through www.itis.gov

Identification: Distinguishing characteristics, key, and photographs appeared in Géry (1977). A color photograph of live fish is available in Axelrod et al. (1985). Given its wide native distribution and geographic variation, it is likely that Hoplias malabaricus represents a species complex.

Size: 50 cm SL.

Native Range: Tropical and subtropical America from Costa Rica to Argentina, including the island of Trinidad (Taphorn 1992; Planquette et al. 1996).

Alaska	Hawaii	Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands	Guam Saipan

Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) Explained
Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Means of Introduction: This introduction represented either releases or escapes from a fish farm (Courtenay, personal communication).

Status: Formerly established in Hillsborough County, Florida. No specimens have been collected since January 1977; presumably species was extirpated by extremely cold temperatures during that month (Courtenay and Hensley 1979). Shafland et al. (2008) recently surveyed for this species and found no specimens.

Impact of Introduction: According to Courtenay (personal communication), Florida Hoplias were causing severe injuries to native centrarchids, especially Lepomis species.

Remarks: In its native range, this predacious fish has been reported to move overland through wet vegetation or mud at night or during rainstorms (Taphorn 1992). Live fish are difficult to handle and potentially dangerous because of their sharp teeth, strong jaws, and slippery bodies.

Voucher specimens: Florida (UF 97060; 134655, 178226; FSBC 8842, 8843, 8844, 8962, 8963, 9593).

References: (click for full references)

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. - Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL.

Courtenay, W.R., Jr., and D.A. Hensley. 1979. Survey of introduced non-native fishes. Phase I Report. Introduced exotic fishes in North America: status 1979. Report Submitted to National Fishery Research Laboratory, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Gainesville, FL.

Géry, J. 1977. Characoids of the world. Tropical Fish Hobbyist Publications, Inc., Neptune City, NJ.

Hensley, D.A. 1976. Collection of postlarval and juvenile Hoplias malabaricus (Characoidei: Erythrinidae) in Florida. Florida Scientist 39(4):236-238.

Hensley, D.A., and D.P. Moody. 1975. Occurrence and possible establishment of Hoplias malabaricus (Characoidei; Erythrinidae) in Florida. Florida Scientist 38(2):122-128.

Planquette, P., P. Keith, and P.-Y. Le Bail. 1996. Atlas des poissons d'eau douce de Guyane. Tome 1. Collection Patrimoines Naturels 22. Publications scientifiques du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris.

Shafland, P.L., K.B. Gestring and M.S. Stanford.  2008.  Florida’s exotic freshwater fishes – 2007.  Florida Scientist 71:220-245

Taphorn, D.C. 1992. The characiform fishes of the Apure River drainage, Venezuela. BioLlania (Guanare, Venezuela), special edition 4.

Other Resources:
US Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Risk Screening Summary for Hoplias malabaricus

Author: Leo Nico, Matt Neilson, and Bill Loftus

Peer Review Date: 10/4/2012

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.