RECENT COLLECTIONS OF EXOTIC AQUARIUM FISHES IN THE FRESH-WATERS OF OREGON AND THERMAL TOLERANCE OF ORIENTAL WEATHERFISH AND PIRAPATINGA

We report captures of exotic serrasalmine characids, Piaractus brachyp omus, P. mesopotamicus, and an aberrant characid of unresolved Identit y and two species of cobitids, Misgurnus mizolepis and M. anguiilicaud atus in freshwaters of Oregon. Oriental weatherfish, M. anguillicaudca tus, appear to be established in a localized area of the Clackamas Riv er of western Oregon, and in the Owyhee, Malheur, and Snake rivers of eastern Oregon. Preliminary thermal tolerance testing of pirapatinga, P. brachypomus, and oriental weatherfish showed that the former was un likely to survive winter water temperatures in temperate western state s, whereas the latter could easily tolerate water temperatures lower t han normal winter temperatures.