Presence of the walking catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) (Siluriformes, Clariidae) in Minas Gerais state hydrographie basins, Brazil

Abstract

The first official occurrence of the exotic species Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) in the Rio Paraopeba (São Francisco river basin), the Rio Grande (Paraná river basin), and the Rio Doce (Doce river basin), is reported, with comments on the possible ecological consequences and on the conservation of freshwater fish biodiversity due to non-native species introductions.