With a snake-like head, a 33-inch body, and the ability to breathe on land, the Northern Snakehead Fish seems an almost alien threat to the Georgia ecosystem. Channa argus (Northern Snakehead) has not yet had any direct impacts on aquatic ecosystems in the Chesapeake Bay region, or in North America, since no populations are known to be established. Negative effects on ecosystem: Snakeheads can breathe air and can survive out of water for up to four days, can survive for even longer periods of time burrowed in the sediment- Gives it the ability to eat both creatures on land and in water Northern snakeheads are an invasive species that pose a … Their genus, (Parachanna) is found in Africa. The northern Snakehead Fish are native to China, Russia and North Korea. The northern snakehead (Channa argus) is a species of snakehead fish native to China, Russia, North Korea, and South Korea, ranging from the Amur River to Hainan. The Northern snakehead is a non-native, invasive species that someone illegally introduced to the Potomac River. How to Identify Northern Snakehead. In the United States, the fish is considered to be a highly invasive species. The burbot can be distinguished from the northern snakehead by a split dorsal fin, and a single barbell on the lower jaw. Northern Snakehead, Channa argus. With a narrow, torpedo-shaped body and a long dorsal (back) fin, northern snakehead looks similar to Ontario’s native bowfin (Amia calva), and burbot (Lota lota).Check the chart below to know if you have a snakehead, a bowfin or another species. Northern snakeheads look similar to the native burbot and bowfin. The so-called “frankenfish” made it to the Delmarva Peninsula by 2010. While the venomous species are likely to bare their mouth to a threat, the Northern Water Snake will usually flee into the water rather than confront any direct threat. A piscicide is a chemical substance which is poisonous to fish. The bowfin can be distinguished by a rounded tail, no scales on its head, and an eyespot near the tail in males. Both the introduction and removal of snakes can have unforeseen effects on an ecosystem. The northern snakehead (Channa argus) is a mean-looking fish (not to mention it has teeth and can travel on land! If snakeheads invade the Great Lakes, they could cause great damage to that ecosystem. Opinion: Invasive northern snakeheads are a menace to the Maryland ecosystem. ), but for a long time we haven’t known what its presence means for the health of our native fish populations. The northern snakehead can grow up to 85 centimetres long and weigh as much as seven kilograms. They can live in waters that are covered in ice, so they are capable of surviving winters in Maryland and Northeast USA. Rotenone is an odourless, colourless, crystalline ketonic chemical compound used as a broad-spectrum insecticide, piscicide, and pesticide. In Europe, the first report of the species was from Czechoslovakia in 1956. In 2008, northern snakeheads were found in Arkansas drainage ditches, after an accident at a commercial fish farm. It has been introduced to other regions, where it is considered invasive. The rounded body of the adult northern snakehead is not as conducive to overland migration as observed in more horizontally flattened snakehead species. Invasion of the Snakeheads ... but there are not yet enough data to know what effect the bullseye snakehead has had or will have on Florida ecology. In Europe, the first report … The northern snakehead is a old world fish native to Eastern/Southeastern Asia. Note the extended anal fin, and the pelvic fins located near the pectoral fins and gills. The northern Snakehead Fish or Channa argus in scientific terms, are just interesting creatures of which really worth learning about. Wherever it has turned up in the Chesapeake or its adjoining waters, the snakehead’s abundance has typically tripled within the first few years. Based on their broad environmental tolerances, northern snakeheads have the potential to greatly expand their range throughout North America. Opportunistic Species: Tends to exhibit exponential growth Members of Not all non-native fish are invasive, afterall. The color of the Northern Water Snake means that it is commonly mistaken for the venomous Cottonmouth and the Copperhead, but it behaves very differently. So, don’t miss this chance to learn all about them. The northern snakehead (Channa argus) is a species of snakehead fish native to China, Russia, North Korea, and South Korea, ranging from the Amur River to Hainan. The rounded body of the adult northern snakehead is not as conducive to overland migration as observed in more horizontally flattened snakehead species. Although the northern snakehead can survive up to four days out of the water, overland migration is only possible for juveniles (Courtenay and Williams 2004). They resemble bowfins and can live in similar habitats. However, this species is regarded with great concern as a potential invader. The usefulness of snakes ranges from their ecological importance to the economic importance of snakes in both pet and healthcare industries. Although the northern snakehead can survive up to four days out of the water, overland migration is only possible for juveniles (Courtenay and Williams 2004). The Northern Snakehead has become a big problem for ecosystems, mainly in the states of Florida, Maryland, Virginia, and Massachusetts.