introduced species
nounUK /ˌɪn.trəˈdjuːst ˈspiː.ʃiːz/
US /ˌɪn.trəˈduːst ˈspiː.ʃiːz/
An introduced species is a plant or animal that people brought to a new place where it did not live before.
The rabbit is an introduced species in Australia because people brought it there long ago.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A species moved by humans, on purpose or by accident, outside its natural home range.
Ships accidentally carried the zebra mussel to new lakes as an introduced species.
3. A species that may or may not cause harm after arriving in a new environment.
Not every introduced species becomes a problem for the local wildlife.
4. A species brought in for farming, gardening, or pets that later spreads.
The garden snail was an introduced species that escaped into the wild.