Donetsk, Jan 11 – DAN. An alien predator fish, pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus), has been spotted in water bodies of Shakhtersk, Snezhnoye and southern DPR, the State Committee for Water Resources and Fisheries said.
“A novel species, pumpkinseed, is untypical for our fauna and it is an invasive and alien species. It outcompetes local fauna, which may result in a local ecological catastrophe.”
It was spotted in water bodies across Telmanovo, Amvrosiyevka and Starobeshevo districts and in Snezhnoye and Shakhtersk.
The new species was first recorded in Donbass ten years ago. Pumpkinseeds typically are about 10 cm in length. The pumpkinseed's natural habitat is North America. In Europe, the pumpkinseed is considered an invasive species. The species has been reported to prey on fish eggs and it has been said to contribute to the decline of some indigenous fish species.
According to the Committee, the most numerous indigenous species are European perch, Prussian carp, common roach, rudd, zander, northern pike, common bleak, sunbleak, ruffe, common bream.
The most popular species introduced for fish hunting are common carp, silver carp, bighead carp and a silver/bighead hybrid, grass carp and Prussian carp.*ot