Taxonomic Composition and Distribution of Alien Suckermouth Armored Catfish (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) in Southern Vietnam.

The distribution of alien species of suckermouth armored catfishes (Loricariidae) in the water bodies and water streams of southern Vietnam has been studied. The taxonomic composition of suckermouth armored catfish is determined based on the data of morphological and molecular genetic analysis. Two species of armored catfishes, Pterygoplichthys pardalis and P. disjunctivus, as well as their interspecific hybrid (P. pardalis × P. disjunctivus), are found in the studied reservoirs and watercourses of southern Vietnam. Nowadays, the suckermouth armored catfish Pterygoplichthys spp. inhabits the basins of almost all major river systems of southern Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]