In summer, and in warmer conditions-which necessitates more oxygen-the fish solely breathes air though its suprabranchial organ. However, snakeheads can also use their gills to respire underwater, which they often do in the winter months. It can survive outside of water for up to four days. This adaptation enables snakeheads to thrive in low-oxygen, stagnant bodies of water in a variety of settings, from swamps to muddy rivers to canals to ponds. This allows the animal to absorb oxygen directly from air by gulping it in through its mouth. Air-breathingĬhanna argus has a special chamber adjacent to its gills called a suprabranchial organ. During times of drought, snakeheads generally burrow into the mud however during rainstorms, they can more easily migrate. The juveniles are adept at moving short distances on land, however when they get older and their bodies become more rounded, it becomes more difficult. The scales are golden tan to pale brown, and they have distinctive splotches along their flank. Their long dorsal fin, which runs much of the length of their body, and a powerful anal fin make them speedy swimmers. They have sharp, dagger-like teeth, and canine teeth on their lower jaw. These fish, whose elongated bodies earned them their name, can grow up to three feet long in introduced areas, and even larger in their native range. The fast-growing creatures are carnivorous, eating zooplankton when they are young, but quickly progressing to insects, small amphibians, and other fish. But it’s also been introduced around the world, including most recently, the United States, where the invasive species has caused environmental problems. This aggressive fish is native to China, southern Siberia, and North Korea, where it is fished and occasionally raised for food. Juveniles can also wriggle their long, narrow bodies onto land, enabling them to travel from one pond or stream to another if needed. While visiting Florida’s Special Places, help early detection and tracking efforts by reporting any non-native species you see online or using your smartphone (call 1-888-IVE-GOT-1 if you have a live animal in front of you).The northern snakehead ( Channa argus) has a most unusual ability: It can breathe outside of the water, as well as within. Fishermen should refrain from re-releasing all non-native fishes and should be particularly careful to avoid spreading non-native fish, invertebrates and aquatic vegetation to new locations.Īudubon encourages the use of IveGot1 to report sightings of snakeheads and all other non-native fishes to help track their spread. In the Everglades CISMA’s recent Non-Native Fish Round Up, one winning fisherman returned over 60 pounds of snakeheads. In Florida, the snakehead population appears to currently be isolated in Broward County, although they have the potential to succeed throughout the southern half of peninsular Florida, if introduced.
Native to southeast Asia, these ambush predators are bottom-dwelling, feeding primarily on small fish and crustaceans but able to eat a wide variety of prey including turtles, amphibians and snakes. Bullseye Snakehead are a large, elongate fish (looking similar to our native bowfin) with sharp teeth and the ability to breathe air.
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