Leptochelia philetaerus, Tanais estuaries (Pillai, 1954), Tanais fluviatilis (Giambiagi, 1923), Tanais herminiae (Mane-Garzon, 1943), Tanais philetaerus (Stebbing, 1904), Tanais stanfordi (H. Richardson, 1901), Tanais sylviae (Mello-Leitao, 1941)

Nonindigenous Occurrences: It is considered cryptogenic in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean (Orensanz et al. 2002) and in Paranaguá Bay, Brazil (Neves et al. 2007). Considered nonindigenous and established in the northeast Pacific Ocean, where it was introduced as early as the 1970s via ballast water, commercial oyster farming, and by ship fouling to Coos Bay, Humboldt Bay, and the straits and sounds of Washington and along the coast of British Columbia (Wonham and Carlton 2005). Also reported in South Carolina (SCDNR 2008) and in southern California bays (Cohen et al. 2005).

Sinelobus stanfordi is considered a relatively sensitive species to some anthropogenic stressors, and was absent in areas with high pollution following an oil spill in the coastal area of Río de la Plata, Argentina (Ocon et al. 2008). Environmental preferences of S. stanfordi were estimated from populations in the freshwater coastal tidal zone of the Río de la Plata estuary and are as follows: conductivity (60–9200 µS/cm), pH (7.6–8.6), dissolved oxygen (77–116%), turbidity (27–750 NTU), soluble reactive phosphorus (0.096–0.254 mg/L). Abundance of S. stanfordi was positively related with dissolved oxygen and negatively related to phosphorus concentrations (Ambrosio et al. 2014). This species was also recorded in near hypoxic waters 25 m deep in Arcturus Lake (Gardiner 1975).

The diet of Sinelobus stanfordi has not been studied, however, tanaids typically consume algae, bacteria and detritus. It is consumed by the American freshwater goby (Ctenogobius shufeldti) in Brazil, and is considered an influential prey during the dry season due to its increased availability and reproductive output at that time (Contente et al. 2012). Limited information exists on this species' reproductive habits, but females are multiparous and have been observed with 5–57 eggs (Gardiner 1975; Ferreira et al. 2015) which is comparable to other tanaids.

Potential pathway(s) of introduction: Transoceanic shipping, ship fouling

Sinelobus stanfordi may be transported to the Great Lakes via the ballast water of transoceanic shipping, boat fouling, and as hitchhikers in aquaculture. The euryhaline nature of Sinelobus stanfordi makes it likely to survive ballast water transfers. However, its potential sensitivity to low dissolved oxygen may reduce survival in transoceanic shipping. This species is also known to foul ships (Neves et al. 2007), and is the one of the introduction pathways to the northeast Pacific U.S. coast suggested by Wonam and Carlton (2005). It also may have been introduced to the northeast pacific U.S. coast via hitchhiking in oyster farming operations or with the invasion of Limnoperna fortunei (Wonham and Carlton 2005) .

Sinelobus standfordi has a moderate probability of establishment if introduced to the Great Lakes (Confidence level: Moderate).

While the exact native range of Sinelobus stanfordi is unknown, it typically occurs in the coastal waters of tropical and temperate countries, and has been found around South America, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific Northwest and east coast of the United States. These regions are generally warmer on average than the Great Lakes and experience less harsh winters. However, the tolerance of this species to harsh climatic conditions is not well understood. In contrast, this species is euryhaline and has been found in eutrophic and human altered systems (e.g., ports and marinas) and thus may find abundant suitable habitat in the Great Lakes. Further, some of the predicted effects of climate change (warmer temperatures and increased salinization) may benefit the establishment success of Sinelobus stanfordi. Sinelobus stanfordi is likely to find adequate food sources in the Great Lakes region. As a small benthic species, Sinelobus stanfordi may be preyed upon to some degree, and its establishment success may be reduced or delayed by predators in the Great Lakes. Last, due to recent taxonomic revisions, the native range of this species is unknown, thus, its previous history of spread and establishment cannot be accurately assessed without further research.

Summary of species impacts derived from literature review. Click on an icon to find out more...

Beneficial

There is insufficient information available to determine whether Sinelobus stanfordi poses a threat to other species or water quality. There are no reports on how it affects or interacts with other species. It is unknown whether this species alters the physical components of the ecosystem.

There is little or no evidence to support that Sinelobus stanfordi has the potential for significant socio-economic impacts if introduced to the Great Lakes.

It has not been reported that Sinelobus stanfordi poses a threat to human health or water quality. There is no evidence that this species negatively impacts infrastructure, economic sectors, recreational activities and associated tourism, or aesthetic appeals of the areas it inhabits.

There is little or no evidence to support that Sinelobus stanfordi has the potential for significant beneficial impacts if introduced to the Great Lakes.

Sinelobus stanfordi may serve as a food source for some species. It is consumed by the American freshwater goby (Ctenogobius shufeldti) in Brazil, and is considered an influential prey during the dry season due to its increased availability and reproductive output at that time (Contente et al. 2012). It has not been indicated that Sinelobus stanfordi can be used for the control of other organisms or improving water quality. There is no evidence to suggest that this species is commercially, recreationally, or medically valuable.