BioStudies Exotic Species Identification Guide

NORTHERN SNAKEHEAD Scales on Long dorsal head fin BOWFIN (MALE) No scales Long dorsal on head fin

SNAKEHEADS (Channa spp.)

Family: Channidae

No bony Pelvic fins plates near head

Anal fin long

Bony plates

Pelvic fins mid-body

Anal fin short

Northern snakehead (Channa argus) Snakeheads (Channidae) include some 26 species of Channa from southern and eastern Asia and 3 Parachanna from Africa. A number of have been introduced outside their native ranges. All have elongate bodies with long dorsal and anal fins, lack fin spines, and have rounded caudal fins. All have large sharp teeth and are aggressive predators. In addition to gills, snakeheads have a lunglike accessory breathing organ and must gulp air or drown. They are extremely hardy and tenacious to life. Some species can survive out of water for several days, hibernate in winter, aestivate in summer, and can cross dry land to reach new waters. Snakeheads build nests and guard eggs and young. Some have been known to attack and kill humans in protection of their nests. Because of their ability to survive for days out of water, they have been a popular food item in areas where food preservation options are limited. A few species have been imported for sale in the pet trade. Live imports for sale in Asian-American food markets and introductions in U.S. waters have become problematic.

Bowfin (Amia calva) juveniles are occasionally sold in the pet trade.

Pike cichlids (Crenicichla spp.) have dorsal and anal spines.

LEGAL RESTRICTIONS: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department included snakeheads on its first prohibited fish list in the 1960s. Federal restrictions have been passed more recently. Despite both state and local regulations, demand for this species in the Asian-American food industry and continued interest in the aquarium trade demonstrates an ongoing possibility of importation, culture, and risk of release or escape. Any snakeheads found in U.S. waters or local stores should immediately be reported to state or federal authorities. Note that bowfin is native and not restricted and pike cichlids are no longer prohibited in the Texas aquarium trade (though release is prohibited).

Robert G. Howells BioStudies

160 Bearskin Trail, Kerrville, Texas 78028 biostudies@hctc.net May 2009
Images and materials herein are not available for reuse or other applications without written permission of the author.

Northern snakehead (Channa argus)

Northern snakehead (C. argus) a preserved specimen showing head scales and blotch pattern on sides.

Bullseyes snakehead (C. marulius) may exceed 4 ft (1.2 m) in length and has been introduced in Florida, but is not extremely cold tolerant. Blotched snakehead (C. maculate) was introduced in Hawaii many years ago.

Eyespot snakehead (C. pleurophthalma) has been sold in the pet trade because of its bright color pattern.

Giant snakehead (C. micropeltes) brightly colored juveniles were once sold in the aquarium trade.

Northern snakehead (C. argus) juveniles have different color patterns from adults.

U.S. HISTORY: Several species of snakeheads were imported for sale in the pet trade during the 1900s. Giant snakehead (C. micropeltes) juveniles were periodically sold as red snakehead due to their bold black and red color patterns. Some releases were reported in the U.S., but the species is not especially cold tolerant and no established populations developed. Some states with warmer waters prohibited snakeheads as harmful species, but other northern states often did not restrict them. As the Asian-American community in the U.S. grew in the late 1900s, so also did demand for snakeheads (typically alive) as an ethnic food and folk medicine item. In August 2001, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department personnel found large numbers of cold-tolerant northern snakehead (C. argus) being sold in ethnic markets in Houston and acted quickly to seize and destroy these fish before releases could occur. The following year, northern snakeheads were found to have been released and established in a pond in Maryland, with other subsequent reports of captures in North Carolina and Florida. Extensive and expensive efforts were mounted in Maryland to destroy that population, with national news coverage, a book, and movie resulting. Unfortunately, northern snakehead appear to have reproduced elsewhere in the Mid-Atlantic states and others have been collected around the country, including a breeding population found in Arkansas in 2008. Giant snakehead (C. micropeltes) adults with bold black, tan, and white markings differ from red juvenile colors.

SNAKEHEAD SPECIES: Northern snakehead (C. argus): Because of its cold tolerance, numbers imported, and releases, this species has become a major concern in the U.S. It reaches about 3 ft (0.9 m) and 15 lbs (6.8 kg). It is among the most cold-tolerant snakeheads and therefore poses a significant threat throughout most of the U.S. Demand for this species continues and other illegal introductions can be expected. Giant snakehead (C. micropeltes): This species reaches 3 ft (0.9 m) in length and 44 lbs (20 kg). Though not the largest snakehead, it is one of the most aggressive and is know to have killed people. Boldly colored young sold in the aquarium trade have been released when they became larger and less attractive. Fortunately, giant snakehead is not especially cold tolerant. Bullseye snakehead (C. marulius): This is one of the largest snakeheads and can exceed 4 ft (1.2 m), but with reports from its native waters in Asia of 5 ft (1.5 m) and 60 lbs (27 kg). It also has among the largest teeth in the family. It is not known to be particularly cold tolerant. Bullseye snakehead has been introduced in southern Florida, but seems unlikely to invade more northern waters successfully. Blotched snakehead (C. maculata): This species was released in Hawaii in the 1800s (long considered to be chevron snakehead C. striata) and elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific. It too reaches about 3 ft (0.9 m). SIMILAR SPECIES: Snakeheads are similar in appearance to native bowfin (Amia calva) but fin size and position as well as scale and bony plate placement are very different between these fishes. South American pike cichlids (Crenicichla spp.) sold in the aquarium trade also have similar shapes, but have spiny dorsal and anal fins (no spines in snakeheads).