What is a Northern Snakehead?

A northern snakehead is an exotic fish that belongs to the Channidae family and is native to China, Korea, and other countries in the Far East. This long, thin fish has invaded many other parts of the world, where it is a very unwelcome resident. It is very adaptable to different types of freshwater environments, and drastic measures have been taken to eradicate them from these areas.

This undesirable fish can grow quite up to 47 inches (1.2 m) long and can weigh as much as 15 pounds (6,8 kg). The young snakehead is brownish in color with a gold tinge, and as it ages it turns darker brown with large black patches. It has extended anal and dorsal fins along with a short tail fin. With its flattened scaly head and large mouth, the northern snakehead does indeed resemble a snake.

Snakeheads grow quickly and reach maturity at two years of age. They are very fertile, and females may lay as much as 100,000 eggs each year. In their native environment, they usually spawn in early to mid-summer. The hungry young snakeheads feed continuously on insect larvae, zooplankton, and tiny crustaceans. As they grow, they become insatiable predators, eating fish and frogs as well as birds and small mammals.

These fish are able to acclimatize themselves to a wide range of temperatures and living conditions. Unlike most other fish, the northern snakehead can survive out of water for as long as four days. When burrowed in mud, they can endure for much longer. They also have the unique characteristic of being able to travel over land by wiggling their bodies. All of these factors make the northern snakehead very hard to completely remove from areas they have invaded.

In the past, these fish were sold in pet stores and in Asian fish markets. It is assumed that they were brought to the U.S. for these purposes, but their value as a commercial fish deteriorated as their destructive nature became more apparent. The northern snakeheads began to invade the waters of the U.S. in the mid 1970s, and they have continued to infiltrate other parts of the world as well. They not only crowd out and overtake native species, but also kill them for food. The import of these troublesome fish is now banned without permission from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Aggressive measures are being taken to kill any and all northern snakehead fish living in American waters. Several types of herbicides have been introduced to northern snakehead infested areas but this has the disadvantage of also killing native fish. Fishermen have been encouraged to catch and kill any of these invasive fish that they encounter.

The Northern Snakehead is a freshwater fish native to East Asia, recognized for its elongated body and sharp teeth. It thrives in rivers, streams, and lakes, and has become an invasive species in other parts of the world, including the United States, due to its adaptability and voracious appetite.

Introduced accidentally or intentionally outside its native range, the Northern Snakehead disrupts local ecosystems in the U.S. by preying on native species and competing for resources. Its resilience and ability to spread across water systems have made it a significant ecological threat, as noted by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Northern Snakeheads are prolific breeders, with females releasing thousands of eggs multiple times per year. This rapid reproduction rate exacerbates their invasive potential, leading to overpopulation and significant ecological impacts, such as the displacement of native species and alteration of aquatic habitats.

Remarkably, Northern Snakeheads possess a specialized respiratory system that allows them to breathe air, enabling them to survive out of water for up to four days if they remain moist. This adaptation facilitates their movement across land, increasing their invasive potential by allowing them to colonize new water bodies.

Efforts to control Northern Snakehead populations include public awareness campaigns, targeted fishing, and eradication programs. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, these measures aim to prevent the spread, reduce numbers, and ultimately protect native ecosystems from the impacts of this invasive species.

While the Northern Snakehead is generally viewed as harmful to non-native ecosystems, some argue that it could potentially benefit certain areas by controlling populations of other invasive species or providing a new source of food for local anglers, as suggested by some fishery studies. However, these potential benefits are heavily outweighed by the ecological risks.