Range expansion of the invasive Amazon sailfin catfish, Pterygoplichthys pardalis (Castelnau, 1855), in the central and southeastern Gulf of Mexico

Exotic armoured catfishes are known to be established in central and southeastern Mexico. We report the first record of the Amazon sailfin catfish, Pterygoplichthys pardalis, in Veracruz State, located on the eastern Gulf of Mexico. We captured one specimen in the Comejen River in La Florida, in March 2009, seven specimens in the Calzadas River tributary of the Coatzacoalcos River in May 2012, and three specimens in the Lagartos lagoon in Veracruz City (one in August 2012 and two in September 2013). Additional records from these regions indicate that P. pardalis is spreading in the Coatzacoalcos River basin and near Veracruz City. These records are indicative of the dispersion of this species in Mexico. Further sampling is required to assess the invasion area.