Photo of the confirmed Barbonymus schwanefeldii (tinfoil barb) specimen caught in Laguna de Bay in 2024 (IMAGE)
Caption
Biologists from the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines have confirmed the presence of the tinfoil barb (Barbonymus schwanefeldii), a popular aquarium fish, in Laguna de Bay, the country's largest freshwater lake. Native to Southeast Asia but not the Philippines, this fast-growing omnivore poses a threat to native fish by outcompeting them for food and breeding sites. The silver-colored fish was identified through morphological analysis of a specimen caught in 2024, marking the first verified record of the species in the lake. Though previously reported anecdotally, this confirmation raises alarm over the unregulated introduction of alien species into Philippine freshwater systems. The tinfoil barb’s spread could worsen the already degraded state of Laguna de Bay, which provides fisheries, water, and flood control for millions. The Ateneo researchers underscored the need for increased public awareness and stronger monitoring to prevent further ecological disruption. Their findings were published in the Philippine Journal of Systematic Biology.
Credit
Mariko Aboganda, Ateneo de Manila University
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