Possible establishment of two exotic invasive cichlid fish species, <i>Oreochromis niloticus</i> (Linnaeus, 1758) and <i>Oreochromis mossambicus</i> (Peters, 1852) in two rivers of Arunachal Pradesh

The study documents the occurrence of two exotic invasive fish species, Oreochromis niloticus and Oreochromis mossambicus, in the Senkhi and Poma Rivers, a freshwater river that drains within the Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Papum Pare District, in Arunachal Pradesh, India. The repeated capture of O. niloticus in 2023 and the detection of adult O. mossambicus in 2013 and 2024 indicate that these species are now established in these two hill streams of the state. On the other hand, this might pose a significant ecological concern, as their presence may threaten the native aquatic biodiversity. The paper suggests the urgent need for scientific research and the development of management strategies to prevent the further spread of these invasive species in other parts of the rivers.