The Missouri conservation department (MDC, in English) has received several reports on the presence of this species, known for its ability to destroy local fauna due to its predatory and aggressive behavior. Therefore, US authorities have issued an alert for the sightings of these specimens.
The MDC urged the inhabitants to eliminate any specimen they find immediately report the finding, since they represent a threat to native fauna.
The northern snake headChanna Argus) is an elongated body predator, not native to the United States. His name comes from the similarity of his head with that of a snake. It can reach up to a meter long and presents a coloration and pattern similar to those of a python.
“This fish is one of the most recent threats of invasive species in Missouri,” said Angela Sokolowski, a specialized ecologist in invasive species of the MDC. He added that, due to its appearance, it can be confused with the native dawn fish, so it is essential to identify them correctly.
Sokolowski indicated that if a person catches a snake head, he should not release him.
Unlike most fish, this species can breathe air, which allows it to survive in waters with low oxygen level or even out of the water for several days, provided that your skin remains wet. In addition, it can be dragged on the mainland to return to the water, according to the MDC.
This fish, originally from Asia, attacks native species and competes for resources, which makes it an ecological risk.
“The Northern Snake Headfish is highly invasive and could reduce the populations of sports species that the Missouri inhabitants appreciate fishing,” Sokolowski said.
He added that fishermen can provide key information by reporting any capture of this species.
The first copy registered in Missouri was captured in 2019, in a loan ditch within the dikes of the St. Francis River, in Dunklin County.
The MDC provided recommendations to fishermen who catch a copy of this species:
- Ensure that it is effectively a northern snake head fish, since it can be confused with the native harlequin. The latter has a shorter anal fin than the invader.
- Do not release the fish or throw it to the shore, because it can return to the water or move to another body of water.
- Cut your head, gut it or place it in a sealed plastic bag to avoid survival.
The institution recalled that it is illegal to import, export, sell, buy or have a northern snake head in Missouri, and reiterated the call to report any capture or sighting.