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The snakehead is a freshwater fish of the family Channidae, found in parts of Africa and Asia. There are 28 breeds of the snakehead, which is distinguished by its elongated body, long dorsal and anal fins without spines, and large mouth with canine teeth. Young fish are typically tan or gray, while older fish are generally brown with black mottling. The snakehead can grow to lengths of up to 36 inches (90 cm). The northern snakehead is sometimes confused with bowfin fish and eels, which are native to the United States. A favorite food in Asia, the snakehead is also believed to have curative powers.
Sometimes called the "Frankenfish," the snakehead is a voracious predator that eats fish, amphibians, crustaceans, birds, small reptiles, and even small mammals. Unlike most other fish, the snakehead is able to breathe atmospheric air and can live on land for up to three days, sometimes 'walking' from one body of water to another by using its pectoral fins. Some species of snakehead hibernate to survive cold and bury themselves in mud to survive droughts. The snakehead reproduces quickly and poses a threat to ecosystems in the United States, where it is sometimes imported as a delicacy or as an aquarium fish and is released into fresh water, causing potential ecological disasters.
In the U.S., four species of the snakehead have been found in California, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. While most cases involved a single fish, reproducing populations were found in Florida, Hawaii and Maryland. In one instance in 2002, a pond in Maryland had to be poisoned after it was infested with snakehead fish. In October 2004, a snakehead was found for the first time in Lake Michigan, at Burnham Harbor in Chicago.
Most snakehead findings in the US have involved the northern snakehead, which is not known to be dangerous to humans. However, the giant snakehead (Channamicropeltes), a tropical variety indigenous to Southeast Asia, has been found in waters in Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. This species has reportedly attacked and even killed people who approached its young.
In 2002, the US Department of the Interior banned the importation or interstate transportation of live snakehead fish or their eggs, deeming them a potentially injurious form of wildlife. Possession of snakeheads is illegal in approximately 16 states in the US.
Last updated: November 08, 2004.
