Vol. 77 (3) 2025

ARTICLES

First Record of Silurus aristotelis Garman, 1890 in Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Center (Schinias National Park, Attica, Greece)

Costas Perdikaris1*, Evangelos Konstantinidis1, Leonidas Vardakas2, Maria Kamilari3,
Nicholas Koutsikos2 & Costas Akovitiotis4

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*1Department of Fisheries, Regional Unit of Thesprotia, Region of Epirus, 46 100, Igoumenitsa, Greece;
E-mail: cperdik74@yahoo.gr; ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5417-6242; E-mail: vkonstandin@yahoo.com;
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4969-5010
2Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Anavyssos, 19013, Attica, Greece; E-mail: louisvard@gmail.com; ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7255-9397; E-mail: nkoutsik@gmail.com;
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0680-4504
3Department of Plant Protection Patras, Institute of Industrial and Forage Crops, Hellenic Agricultural Organization ‘DIMITRA’, 26441 Patras, Greece; E-mail: mkamilari@elgo.gr; ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7960-7598
4Department of Fisheries, Regional Unit of Preveza, Region of Epirus, 48 100, Preveza, Greece; E-mail: acovitiotis@gmail.com; ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4043-1442

https://doi.org/10.71424/azb77.3.002876

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Abstract

This study reports the presence of the endangered endemic Aristotle’s catfish (Silurus aristotelis Garman, 1890) outside of its natural distribution and within the Schinias National Park (Attica Region, Greece), based on morphometric and molecular analyses. The capture of three adult specimens within a small surveyed area suggests that the species is widespread within the National Park and possibly has established a viable population. Given its ecological traits – high environmental adaptability, top predator status, habitat modification tendencies, and territorial behavior – S. aristotelis is expected to exert significant competitive pressure on the park’s endemic and native species, particularly the Marathon minnow (Pelasgus marathonicus Vinciguerra, 1921) and the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.). Additionally, its invasion risk is amplified under projected climate change scenarios, raising concerns about its long-term ecological impact. The detection of S. aristotelis within this protected area highlights the urgent need for immediate management actions, including eradication or population control measures, particularly since angling is strictly prohibited in this area.

Key words

Aristotle’s catfish, translocation, molecular identification, invasiveness risk, Attica

How to Cite
Perdikaris C., Konstantinidis E., Vardakas L., Kamilari M., Koutsikos N. & Akovitiotis C. 2025. First Record of Silurus aristotelis Garman, 1890 in Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Center (Schinias National Park, Attica, Greece). Acta zoologica bulgarica 77 (3): 309-317.

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