Possible Threat for Middle East Inland Water: an Exotic and Invasive Species, Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus (Weber, 1991) in Asi River, Turkey (Pisces: Loricariidae)

Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus is native to South America and this exotic and invasive species has also been introduced accidentally into North America and the Far East. A P. disjunctivus specimen was found in Asi River, Turkey, which is in the Middle East, despite the fact that this species has not been observed in the region before. P. disjunctivus is a potentially invasive species of Asi River. It is assumed that if other members of this species were to spread into Asi River, Garra rufa members would most probably be the primarily impacted species because they are at the same trophic level as P. disjunctivus.