Most information on the status, distribution, history, and pathway of introduction of exotic fishes in Florida presented below was taken from Courtenay et al. (1974, 1984, 1986) and Courtenay and Stauffer (1990). Identification of presently established exotic species in Florida was taken from Courtenay et al. (1991). Species are presented in phyletic sequence of fish families. The presence of exotic species in Florida is monitored and tracked by a form-and-reporting system that the Non-Native Fish Research Laboratory, Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission's Laboratory in Boca Raton, Florida, developed. All agency personnel are asked to fill out the form and submit it to the laboratory as soon as possible (Courtenay and Hensley 1980). The data are maintained in the commission and are not available outside the agency. On a nationwide basis the National Fisheries Research Center in Gainesville, Florida, tracks the distributions and statuses of nonindigenous fish species released into the nation's open waters (Jennings and Williams 1992). This information is computerized and can be obtained by contacting the Federal Laboratory. The rate of introduction has slackened during 1984-94 because of increased awareness of the problems from introductions and subsequent increased regulations. Courtenay (1993) listed only two unintentional introductions and establishment of nonindigenous species, the Mayan (Cichlasoma urophthalmus) and the Midas (Cichlasoma citrinellum) cichlids, into Florida since the early 1980's. Only one of the releases was believed to have escaped from a fish farm, whereas the other was probably released by an aquarist. The large number of reported exotic species that were introduced into Florida during 1950-1980 probably reflected more the effort to find introduced species rather than the actual dates of releases.
When tropical species are found in the wild, determination of the sources of the introductions are sometimes difficult. We tried to identify the most probable pathways of introductions. Courtenay and Meffe (1989) discussed introductions of livebearers in the United States. In general, if the species is sold by the tropical-fish industry and is established in an area of fish farming, the fishes are assumed to have escaped or to have been released from a fish farm; however, they may have been released by tropical fish hobbyists. Isolated populations at a distance from fish farms are considered releases by hobbyists (aquarium dumps) unless other evidence exists. Courtenay and Stauffer (1990) and Courtenay and Williams (1992) discussed the relation between the tropical fish industry and releases of tropical aquarium and aquaculture fishes. Courtenay (1989) reviewed the statuses, distributions, and pathways of exotic fishes and their effects on the national park system.
Common and scientific names of fishes in this report follow the Committee on Names of Fishes, American Fisheries Society (Robins et al. 1991a). Names of nonindigenous fish species in Florida not in that publication follow the common and scientific names in Courtenay et al. (1991) and Robins et al. (1991b).
