Snakehead (fish)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses, see Snakehead (disambiguation).

Snakehead
Temporal range:
Ma
Northern snakehead, Channa argus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anabantiformes
Suborder: Channoidei
Berg, 1940
Family: Channidae
Fowler, 1934
Genera

see text

The snakeheads are members of the

genera are Channa in Asia and Parachanna
in Africa, consisting of more than 50 species.

They are valuable as a food source and have become notorious as an intentionally released invasive species. These fish have been kept as pets but as they get larger, people let them go into ponds, lakes, and rivers, making these fish invasive.

Description

The various

C. micropeltes, and C. striata) can reach 1 m (3 ft 3 in) or more.[2]

Snakeheads are thrust-feeders that consume

mollusks when small. As adults, they mostly feed on other fish (such as carp
) or on frogs. In rare cases, small rodents such as rats are eaten.

History

The Channidae are well represented in the fossil record and known from numerous specimens. They likely originated in the south Himalayan region of the Indian subcontinent (modern-day northern India and eastern Pakistan) at least 50 million years ago (Mya), during the

East Asian monsoon. Both weather patterns emerged due to greater vertical growth of the Alps, Pyrenees, and Himalayas, which affected Eurasian climatic patterns.[5]

Ecological concerns

Snakehead murrel, Channa striata, Java, Indonesia

Snakeheads can become invasive species and cause ecological damage because, in many areas to which they are not native, the absence of natural enemies makes them an apex predator. Not only can they breathe air, but they can also survive on land for up to 4 days, provided they are wet, and are known to migrate up to 400 m (1/4 mi) on wet land to other bodies of water by wriggling with their bodies and fins.

National Geographic Channel reported the "northern snakehead reaches sexual maturity by age two or three. Each spawning-age female can release up to 15,000 eggs at once. Snakeheads can mate as often as five times a year. This means in just two years, a single female can release up to 150,000 eggs."[7]

"Since 2002, it has been illegal to possess a live snakehead in many US states, where they are considered a destructive invasive species."[8] Virginia has criminalized the "introduction" of snakeheads into the state without specific authorization, although the relevant statute does not explain whether mere importation is sufficient to constitute "introduction into the Commonwealth" or whether instead release into the environment is required.[9]

Intentional introductions

Humans have been introducing snakeheads to nonindigenous waters for over 100 years. In parts of Asia and Africa, the snakehead is considered a valuable food fish since the flesh is very tender, and is produced in aquacultures (fisheries motivation) or by accidental release (as was the case in Crofton, Maryland).[10] Examples of the introduction of snakeheads to nonindigenous waters include:

  • Channa maculata
     was introduced to Madagascar and to Hawaii around the end of the 19th century. It can still be found there today.
  • Wallace line
    by governmental programs in the latter half of the 20th century. In Fiji, the introduction failed.
  • Channa asiatica
    , which is native to southern China, was introduced to Taiwan and southern Japan; the origin of and reason for the introduction are unknown.
  • Korean Peninsula
    to Japan about 100 years ago due to fisheries' motivations. Its introduction to Czechoslovakia by its government in the 1960s failed.

Reported sightings

In the United States

Snakeheads became a national news topic in the United States because of the appearance of C. argus, commonly known as northern snakeheads, spawning in a Crofton, Maryland, pond in 2002.[8] Northern snakeheads became permanently established in the Potomac River around 2004,[11] and possibly established in Florida.[8] In about 120 mi (190 km) of river, the population has surpassed 21,000 individuals.[12]

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, snakeheads have also been spotted in California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Virginia, Louisiana,[13] and Rhode Island.[14] Snakeheads have also been spotted in New York State according to the state's Department of Environmental Conservation.[15] Snakeheads have been caught in New Jersey since at least 2008 and according to the New Jersey Department of environmental protection the snakehead population appears to be growing and expanding its distribution. Due to the extensive habitat available and sheer size of the Delaware River, complete eradication of the species does not appear to be feasible.[16]

World record

According to the International Game Fish Association, Caleb Newton, a Spotsylvania County, Virginia, resident, caught a world-record 17 lb 6 oz (7.9 kg) northern snakehead at the junction of Aquia Creek and the Potomac River, United States, on 1 June 2013. The previous record, 17 lb 4 oz (7.8 kg), had been caught in 2004, in Miki, Kagawa, Japan.[17]

Culinary use

Snakeheads are valuable

Parachanna obscura, are farmed in aquaculture. In the United States, chefs have suggested controlling the snakehead invasion by serving them in restaurants.[18]
In Indonesia, snakehead fish, called ikan gabus, are served as the main parts of traditional dishes such as the Betawi people's pucung gabus, and considered to be a delicacy due to their rarity in the wild and in aquaculture, as they are harder to raise than other popular freshwater fish such as catfish and carp. In the Philippines, where it's called "Haluan" (the Tagalogs call it "Dalag"), it is a favorite among Maguindanaons and Iranuns.

C. pleurophthalma

Classification

The snakeheads comprise two

extant
genera:

  • Scopoli
    , 1777 (49 species native to Asia)
  • Parachanna Teugels & Daget 1984 (three extant species, one fossil species, all native to Africa)

Two other genera are only known from fossils:

  • †Anchichanna Murray & Thewissen, 2008[19] (one species)
  • †
    Eochanna
     Roe, 1991 (one species)

The genus

Aenigmachannidae.[20]

In popular culture

After its release in non-native North American waters, either accidentally or intentionally, the aggressive and predator-free snakehead's reputation as a "Frankenfish"

Chihuahua. With the help of a snakehead researcher, however, Wade shows that although it is capable of living outside of water and is able to move on land, its weak pectoral muscles make movement difficult and render the snakehead an unlikely "stalker" on land.[25]

A bowfin, a living fossil, often confused with the snakehead

See also

References

  1. ^ Pinter, H. (1986). Labyrinth Fish. Barron's Educational Series, Inc.,
    ISBN 0-8120-5635-3
    .
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2014). Species of Channa in FishBase. June 2014 version.
  3. S2CID 85925173
    .
  4. hdl:2027.42/48541
    .
  5. ^
    doi:10.1130/G20316.1
    .
  6. National Geographic Channel. Archived from the original
    on December 8, 2007.
  7. National Geographic Channel. Archived from the original
    on 2008-05-15. Video clip titled: "The Northern Snakehead fish wreaks havoc".
  8. ^ a b c Courtenay, Jr., Walter R. and James D. Williams. USGS Circular 1251: Snakeheads (Pisces, Chinnidae) - A Biological Synopsis and Risk Assessment. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. 2004-04-01. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
  9. ^ Code of Virginia § 18.2-313.2: "Any person who knowingly introduces into the Commonwealth any snakehead fish of the family Channidae[...] without a permit from the Director of Game and Inland Fisheries [...] is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor [punishable by up to twelve months in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500]."
  10. ^ Fields, Helen (February 2005). "Invasion of the Snakeheads". Smithsonian (magazine). Science.
  11. ^ Potomac snakeheads not related to others Associated Press, Baltimore Sun, 27 April 2007.
  12. ^ Clark Howard, Brian (2016-03-17). "Fishermen Battle Invasive 'Frankenfish' Snakeheads". National Geographic News. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved 2016-03-18.
  13. ^ "The snakehead is here: Aggressive, air-breathing fish makes first appearance in Louisiana". 9 June 2023.
  14. ^ "History of introduction in the United States: Four species of snakeheads (Channa argus, C. marulius, C. micropeltes, and C. striata) have been recorded from open waters of the United States (California, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island), and two have become established as reproducing populations." Injurious Wildlife Species; Snakeheads Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  15. ^ "Invasive Northern Snakehead - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation". NYS DEC. New York State. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  16. ^ ""Snakehead Management Activities: 2010"" (PDF).
  17. ^ Rusty Dennen (6 August 2013). "Spotsylvania resident Caleb Newton snags world-record snakehead". news.fredericksburg.com. Archived from the original on 2013-08-09.
  18. ^ "Chefs' solution for invading 'Frankenfish'? Eat 'em". News.msn.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-20. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  19. S2CID 85925173
    .
  20. PMID 32999397
    .
  21. ^ "B.C.'s snakehead caught after Burnaby pond drained. CBC News (Posted: June 8, 2012)". Cbc.ca. 2012-06-08. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  22. ^ "The Ultimate Monster Fish: The Frankenfish Snakehead", Carina Suarez, 28 July 2014, National Geographic
  23. ^ "Soprano Home Movies" episode 13, season 6, The Sopranos, 8 April 2007, HBO
  24. ^ Blackmail - The Office US, 2018-02-24, retrieved 2018-04-01[dead YouTube link]
  25. ^ "GIANT SNAKEHEAD". animal.discovery.com. Archived from the original on 2012-08-20.

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Channidae.
Wikispecies has information related to Channidae.
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