Large holes – or a type of burrow – have been appearing along the riverbank from different rivers in Florida, and it is not the work of any creature born in the state, according to experts.
In some places, the small caves are so many that the shore has the appearance of stale Swiss cheese.
What is causing this situation? It is an invasive fish, not at all welcome, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
“These holes have become a common sight for our freshwater biologists,” the FWC Wildlife Research Institute wrote on Facebook Oct. 18.
“Dug by the exotic and invasive crested catfish (also known as ‘pleco‘ or ‘plecostomus’), these burrows function as nests where this fish protects its eggs and newborns.”
The nests become much more visible when the water level drops.
According to biologists, the holes cause a series of problems in Florida’s freshwater ecosystems, as they destabilize river banks, contribute to erosion and give rivers and streams an ominous appearance.
This fish is native to South Americabut it began spreading in Florida starting in the 1950s through the domestic fish trade, experts said.
These fish can reach 22 inches in length and are known to damage plants and hinder the food chain of species native to the region.
“These are resistant invasive fish that face few challenges in Florida, since they tolerate moderate salinity, swallow air when dissolved oxygen is low, and build burrows that allow them to withstand cold and drought,” reported the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences from the University of Florida (UF).
“In addition, their spiny dorsal fins present a mortal danger to endangered birds that eat fish.”
Translation of Jorge Posada
