After the Recent rains and water movements at the La Boca dam, neighborhood warnings about the presence of the virus have increased called devil fish, a pleco of South American origin that worries those who use and enjoy these ecosystems.
The species, known in aquaristics for its "cleaning" role, has settled in different parts of Nuevo LeónLocal workers and fishermen maintain that this is not an isolated case and that more specimens are observed each season.
Recent sightings in Nuevo León
On social media, a fishing enthusiast shared images of a specimen captured in the La Boca dam, generating a cascade of comments calling for intensified extraction to protect native species.
Local media toured the area and They detected at least two fish After recent drainage, the videos show the bony plates and dark stripes that characterize these loricarids.
Personnel working on recreational boats noted that plecos usually move to greater depth and away from the breakwaters, which explains why they are not always visible to the naked eye.
According to testimonies collected in the area, his playback rate This would contribute to more reports appearing each year, something that had already been noted in 2022 and 2023 in the same reservoir.
Affected areas: La Boca, La Silla and Ramos
In addition to the Santiago dam, on the La Silla River (Guadalupe) Several specimens were recorded among stone areas near La Pastora, confirming their presence in urban channels.
In Montemorelos, neighbors have reported sightings in the Ramos River, while in the El Cuchillo dam (China, NL) sporadic captures of this same species have been documented.
The coincidence of records in rivers and reservoirs suggests that, if already colonize urban areas, the jump to other state dams may only be a matter of time.
Effects on the ecosystem and fisheries
Devilfish compete for resources with native fish and can consume eggs and fry of species of ecological and fishing interest, such as bass, tilapia or mojarra.
Their habit of digging galleries to nest erodes the banks and can compromise hydraulic infrastructure; in addition, by removing sediments, it increases the water turbidity, affecting species that require clear waters.
In systems where the species is expanding, there are reports of decline in catches de peces commercial, adding economic pressure on communities that depend on recreational or livelihood fishing.
Identification, origin and expansion factors
They are plecos of the family Loricariidae, originating from the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Over time they can exceed the 50–60 cm and its skin is covered with spiny plates.
They have brown colors with spots or stripes and usually have nocturnal habitsAlthough they are not usually aggressive, they defend their territory against other fish.
They resist adverse conditions: there are records of survival of up to 14 hours out of the water thanks to adaptations to obtain oxygen from the air, which favors its persistence.
A common route of introduction is release of aquarium specimens When they grow too large, with no natural predators and high fertility, their populations rapidly explode.
The recommendations of specialists and authorities go through the prevention: Do not release exotic fish into rivers or dams, report sightings, clean and disinfect equipment before changing bodies of water, and comply with current regulations.
In case of capture during permitted activities, it is advisable do not reintroduce the fish and follow local management guidelines; neighborhood groups promote informational actions to reduce new releases.
With records in The Mouth, The Chair, Ramos and The KnifeThe spread of the devilfish in Nuevo León is emerging as an environmental challenge that requires monitoring, education, and sustained management measures by institutions and citizens.