Clarias. Photo: Javier Yraola Rodríguez
The members of the Speleological Group of San Antonio de los Baños, Javier Yraola Rodríguez and Lucila Montesino Cruz, students of the University of Havana in the specialty of Geography, reported on the entry of exotic species into Cuban ecosystems due to its fragility and to the need to conserve the endemic species.
These young people carried out a search in several caves located around the municipality, with the aim of evaluating the environment of these places.
At present, it is very common to find the Clarias fish in the Ariguanabo River, in the oxidation lagoons and even, crawling somewhere after a heavy downpour. The members of the Ariguanabo Speleological Group were surprised by the finding of dozens of Clarias in the subterranean lakes of the caves near Ariguanabo.
The Clarias could eliminate the invertebrate species that live permanently there and could compete with other species of fish such as Lucifugassp or blind fish, which although not seen in the area, are located in the Center-South of the province of Artemisa or of Mayabeque and Sandino in Pinar del Río.
Javier Yraola Rodríguez and Lucila Montesino Cruz, together with other members of the Speleological Group, formulated three possible theories about the arrival of the Clarias to these lakes: the entrance of the species of anthropic form, by the skylight when being dragged by the superficial waters or by the communication between karstic ducts, which are abundant in the area.
The group is working to take measures and contribute to the protection of our ecosystem.