Northern Snakehead
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| Northern Snakehead | ||||||||||||||
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| Channa argus (Cantor, 1842) |
The Northern Snakehead (Channa argus) is a fish native in China, Russia, and Korea. Adult ones are top-level predators.
The distinguishing features of the Northern Snakehead are a long dorsal fin, small head, large mouth, big teeth, length up to 40 inches, and weight up to 15 pounds.
The fish first appeared in US news when an alert fisherman discovered one in a Crofton, Maryland pond in 2002. The alien species of fish was considered to be a threat to the ecosystem, and weary officials took action by draining the pond in an attempt to destroy the species. The action failed, and in 2004 it was found in the Potomac River, and officials expressed concern that a wild population might have been established. Maryland Department of Natural Resources officials believe that a single mated pair can establish a colony with devastating consequences to native fish populations. Since then, Northern snakeheads have been found in Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, California and Massachusetts. Individuals continue to be caught on both the Maryland and Virginia sides of the Potomac River.
The Northern Snakehead is different from traditional fish because it breathes air. This unusual respiratory system allows it to live outside of water for several days, where concern is that it can wallow its way to other bodies of water or be transported by humans. Officials have suggested if you catch this fish, do not release it into the wild! Please kill the fish and report the finding to the local department of environmental services. Some departments are offering rewards for capturing snakeheads.