Northern+Snakehead+-+9

=__General Information: __Channa argus(northern snakehead) = {pronunciation} are-guss

**Common name:  **

 * Amur snakehead. (C.argus warpachowskii) **

**Meristic:  **
(* //Although as the fish ages its relative proportions change// ) **
 * D: 48-53 A: 30-38 C: 14 V: present Ratio (Body/ head length) : 2.9-3.2*

**Size:  **

 * The largest size recorded in literature is 800 mm and a fish of 8 years old was recorded at 760 mm. (3)  **

**Lateral line scale count:  **

 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">60-75 <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> **

__<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">De __**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Taxonomic name: **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> //Channa argus// (Cantor, 1842) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Not much is known of the impacts of the northern snakehead (Channa argus), **but as a voracious top-level predator with no natural** predators, **its introduction could interrupt and devastate the food web of freshwater systems**. However **it can live outside the water for up to 4 days**, biologists Speculate that **//C. argus// is not well adapted to land travel**. **The largest threat of dispersal is through human release**. (1)
 * Synonyms:** //Channa argus argus//, //Ophicephalus argus// , //Ophicephalus nigricans// , //Ophicephalus pekinensis//
 * Common names:** **amur snakehead (English), eastern snakehead (English), ga mul chi (Korean), kamuruchi (Japanese), northern snakehead (English), ocellated snakehead (English), raigyo (Japanese), zmeegolov (Russian)**
 * Organism type:** fish

=<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">The upper surface has a brownish-green background color and numerous (9-13) black blotches. These blotches have a lighter centre that is sometimes edged in white, above the lateral line. There are bars under the dorsal base (dependant on age). The mid-section is a yellowish-grey while the reddish-white abdomen has streaks above the anal (dependant on age). The upper parts of the head have three paired bars and on the sides can be seen two large stripes; one starting at the snout, running through the eye to the gill cover, while the lower one curves downwards and ends at the edge of the gill cover. The fins are yellow, the dorsal, anal and caudal are spotted black. (2) = =<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> = =<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> = <span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Description **<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">
 * //C. argus// has a torpedo-shaped body that tapers towards the tail. Young snakeheads are golden brown to pale gray in color, turning dark brown and developing black splotches as they age**. **Other distinguishing characteristics are long dorsal and anal fins, smaller heads, and larger mouth**. **Adults can grow up to 1.2 meters long and weigh up to 15 pounds.**

**__<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Detailed Description: __**
=<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">The upper surface has a brownish-green background color and numerous (9-13) black blotches. These blotches have a lighter centre that is sometimes edged in white, above the lateral line. There are bars under the dorsal base (dependant on age). The mid-section is a yellowish-grey while the reddish-white abdomen has streaks above the anal (dependant on age). The upper parts of the head have three paired bars and on the sides can be seen two large stripes; one starting at the snout, running through the eye to the gill cover, while the lower one curves downwards and ends at the edge of the gill cover. The fins are yellow, the dorsal, anal and caudal are spotted black. = =<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> = =Lifecycle stages //C. argus// matures at 2 years when it is approximately 30cm in length and spawns in June or July in its native range.= =<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> = =Reproduction Parents guard the young until they are approximately 18mm in length. //C. argus// spawns 1 to 5 times a year and lays 1,300 to 15,000 eggs per spawn.= =<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> = =Nutrition Young //C. argus// eat zooplankton. At a length of about 18mm, they begin to eat fish larvae and small crustaceans. Adults prefer fish but will eat frogs, crustaceans, and even small reptiles, birds, and mammals. They remain close to shore, typically under aquatic vegetation, and are most active at dusk and dawn, feeding very near the shore.= =<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> = =With no to very few natural predators the snakehead is free to multiply unchecked. They are also incredibly territorially and are more aggressive than native species of fish leading them to be apex predators themselves. (2)<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> = =<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> = =<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> = =__<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Habitat and Distribution: __= =Occurs in: lakes, water courses, wetlands= =Habitat description //C. argus// inhabits freshwater with a temperature range of 0 to 30°C. It has been found in shallow ponds, swamps, and slow moving streams with vegetated or murky substrate. Although //C. argus// is not well adapted to land travel, it can survive out of water for up to four days by breathing oxygen.= =<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> = =<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">In the original description, C.argus was reported from Chusan, China and it’s the dominant snakehead in China. This Snakehead can be found in rivers, ponds and streams across China, from Yunnan to Peking. C.argus kimurai is said to live in the River Kialing in the Szechuan province, also in China; where it is said to be found commonly in the rice fields as well as mountain streams. C.argus can be found to the North-East of China and Korea. From further north, into Russia, in the region of the River Amur, lives the hardier C.argus warpachowskii which has been successfully introduced to many countries, including the former Czechoslovakia. (1) = =<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">  = =__<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Impacts: __= =//<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">C. argus //<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> could cause devastation to freshwater ecosystems of the United States because of its predacious nature, lack of natural predators, high fertility, and adaptability to a wide range of environmental conditions. Where introduced, it could bring disease and harm to native organisms. These changes could also hurt local economies dependent on fishing. = =<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> = =<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">As of this moment in time there is no known hybridization between snakehead species with other species of fish. = =<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> = =<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Snakeheads do not, despite folklore and television influence, attack or even bite humans out of anger, hostility, fear, or a thirst for blood. The only reported bites are from anglers releasing the fish from their hooks. = =<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> = =<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Economically however, the effort to control snakeheads has been an expensive and time consuming endeavor. (4) = =<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Bowfin and Snakeheads: Distinguishing Features = =<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Snakeheads (family Channidae) from Africa and Asia are occasionally imported illegally into Texas. They closely resemble native bowfin (Family Amiidae) but are unrelated. This page depicts one species of snakehead. About 27 others have been identified, some with different color patterns. Pelvic fins may be lacking in several snakehead species. Snakeheads are environmentally harmful. = =<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> = =<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> = =__<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">History: __=

**<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Geographical location: <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> **
=<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">In the original description, C.argus was reported from Chusan, China and this has been confirmed that it is the dominant snakehead in China. This Snakehead can be found in rivers, streams and ponds across China, from Yunnan to Peking. C.argus kimurai is said to inhabit the River Kialing in the Szechuan province, also in China; where it is said to be common in the rice fields as well as mountain streams. C.argus can be found to the North-East of China and Korea. From further north, into Russia, in the region of the River Amur, hails the hardier C.argus warpachowskii which has been successfully introduced to many countries, including the former Czechoslovakia. (5) <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> = =<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> = =Introduction pathways to new locations //Live food trade:// Snakeheads are imported for food, but it seems that surplus fish are sometimes released into the environment for a variety of reasons. Local dispersal methods //Natural dispersal (local):// The snakehead may move in stream and river networks, reproducing and spreading to adjacent watersheds. //Other (local):// Direct intentional release by members of the public of these fish into freshwater locations appears to be the most probable introduction occurrence.= =<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> = =Distribution: Asia: China and western and southern Korea and the USA adverse ecological impact after introduction. (3) = =<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">  = = = =__<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Control Measures: __= __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Preventative measures __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> : //C. argus// (and all snakeheads) were banned from importation and interstate transport in the USA in October 2002 __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Chemical __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"> : In Crofton pond, Maryland, USA, herbicides (Diquat Dibromide and Glyphosate) were used to lower oxygen levels, then a pesticide (Rotenone) was used to poison the fish. Eradication would be much more complicated in rivers, streams, or larger lakes. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">The <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">effort to control snakeheads has been an expensive and time consuming endeavor. (2)

<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">

<span style="font-size: 26pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial Black','sans-serif';">Awesome Video Time!!!

<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">media type="youtube" key="lTfts3dQ5Tk" height="344" width="425"

=__<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Works Cited: __= <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Barlowe, Glen. “Northern Snakehead.” __Magda El-Sherbini Encyclopedia__. 3rd ed. 2004. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Burgoes, Karen H. __A new threat Snakeheads__. New York: Crabtree Publications, 2006. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Dolin, Eric Jay. __Snakehead Fish Out of Water__. New York: New House, 2006. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Greene, Mitch. “Frankenfish.” __National Geographic__ 11 Mar. 2002: 64-79. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Macey, Hector L. “Hidden Danger.” __The Outdoorsman__ 21 Sept. 2005: 45-52.

<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">