Aquatic Species includes both aquatic plant and aquatic animal species. Invasive aquatic plants are introduced plants that have adapted to living in, on, or next to water, and that can grow either submerged or partially submerged in water. Invasive aquatic animals require a watery habitat, but do not necessarily have to live entirely in water.

• Legal Definitions - Executive Order 13112
  USDA. NAL. National Invasive Species Information Center.
• Invasive Species Definition Clarification and Guidance White Paper (PDF | 104 KB)
  Submitted by the Definitions Subcommittee of the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC), Approved by ISAC Apr 27, 2006.
  

Use our Aquatic Species Custom Search Engine to search for invasive species information included in this section of NISIC's site:

Listed below are the aquatic species for which we have completed species profiles - general information about aquatic species commonly known as invasive. This is not a list of all invasive aquatic species, nor does it have any regulatory implications. These profiles are provided as an educational informational tool.

Species not Established in the U.S.

Aquatic Plants

Alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides)
Brazilian Waterweed (Egeria densa)
Caulerpa, Mediterranean Clone (Caulerpa taxifolia)
Common Reed (Phragmites australis)
Curly Pondweed (Potamogeton crispus)
Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
Didymo (Didymosphenia geminata)
Giant Reed (Arundo donax)
Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta)
Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
Melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia)
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Water Chestnut (Trapa natans)
Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)
Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica)

Aquatic Animals

Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)
Asian Carps
Asian Clam (Corbicula fluminea)(Apr 27, 2011)
Asian Shore Crab (Hemigrapsus sanguineus)
Asian Swamp Eel (Monopterus albus)
Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)
Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis)
Clubbed Tunicate (Styela clava)
Eurasian Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus)
European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas)
Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris)
Lionfish (Pterois volitans)
Northern Snakehead (Channa argus)
New Zealand Mud Snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum)
Nutria (Myocastor coypus)
Quagga Mussel (Dreissena bugensis)
Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus)
Rusty Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus)
Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)
Sea Squirt (Didemnum vexillum)
Spiny Water Flea (Bythotrephes longimanus)
Veined Rapa Whelk (Rapana venosa)
White Spotted Jellyfish (Phyllorhiza punctata)
Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)

Ballast Water