The Northern Snakehead
A Disease of a Fish
This invasive species
spreads like a disease
all across the seven seas.
Not like every fish
having its unique features
and its differences
makes its distances
travel around the world.
A fish that looks like a snake
covered with dark spots
like lots of dots.
This fish is a cheetah
when it's in the water.
This snakehead eats
as if there's no tomorrow!
It erases
all fish populations
as it fits through tight spaces.
People have obligations
to kill any snakehead found.
It has small teeth
but don't be fooled
these teeth are sharp
as a knife.
It can cut through anything
like a lumberjack cutting
trees.
The snakehead swims swiftly through sea shores.
The Northern Snakehead: A Snake-like Fish
Introduction
The northern snakehead, also known as channa argus, is an invasive species spreading all over the United States. This means that an aquatic fish has been able to travel thousands of miles from Asia, causing troubles in its new habitat. The northern snakehead is known for being an aggressive predator. The good thing is that snakeheads tend to avoid humans which makes them a less dangerous animal. Many of the unique features that this fish has helps it survive. For example, all of the body parts the channa argus has is for a function. Most people can get shocked by all the things this species can do. It may look like a normal fish but that is not the case. The northern snakehead is like a snake swimming through all the tight spaces in the water. As an invasive species, it is important for people to find a solution to try and end the spread.
Taxonomy and Description
The northern snakehead may sound like the name of a snake, but it's actually an aquatic fish. The reason for its name is the “large scales on their head that give them a snake-like appearance” (Northern Snakehead, New York). The northern snakehead has many similar features to a fish called bowfin. This makes people think it's the same fish. It has a long body which makes it a fast swimmer. The northern snakehead can grow up to 3 feet long in its new habitat but even longer in its native area. Having this shape also allows it to fit through tight spaces underwater. This type of body doesn't last forever, snakeheads tend to lose their skinny figure to a round shape as it grows. This aquatic fish not only uses its form to move along the water but also its large anal fin. The color of this fish goes from a golden tan to a pale brown. Having this color allows them to camouflage in swampy water. The northern snakehead has its gills located close to the pelvic fins. These fins help the fish control what way they swim. When it comes to the mouth this fish has tiny teeth, but don't be fooled its teeth are sharp and located all over the jaw. They also have canine teeth which help grab their food with the teeth that are shaped and curved. These teeth are only found in the lower jaw (Northern Snakehead, National Geographic). The northern snakehead uses all its features on its body to survive and continue spreading causing more problems.
Introduction to Non-Native Habitat
The northern snakehead started spreading “when aquarium owners discarded their unwanted exotic captive species into local waterways” (Northern Snakehead, New York). This shows that the aquatic fish has been able to leave their original habitat which was southern and eastern China. The first snakehead to be found in the United States was found at a pond in Crofton, Maryland in 2002. After the discovery of the northern snakehead, it got the attention of the national media and newspapers. It getting talked about didn't stop the spreading because two years later, snakeheads made their way to the Potomac River, where the largest snakehead invasive population lives. After a few years, the northern snakehead was able to leave Maryland and was “prevalent throughout the country and can be found in California, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Arkansas, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin” (Channa argus argus). The snakehead can spread by escaping a pond and going on land to move to another pond. This is possible because the northern snakehead can go up to four days on land without a problem if the skin remains moist. The northern snakehead has a fast reproducing system. Which is breeding up to five times every year laying more eggs each time. This means that when it reaches water it is able to start reproducing which makes the invasive spread worse. Many federal and state laws have said to kill the northern snakehead if caught to try and decrease the population. This doesn't apply to all states since some are sold and continue to reproduce. In some states, it's illegal to own a northern snakehead but some are “utilized in some restaurants” (Northern Snakehead, New York). The northern snakehead is an invasive species that will continue to spread worldwide.
Adverse Effects
The channa argus has been able to cause adverse effects. It has caused some ecological damage by eating other fish. For example, since they live in freshwater their impact is eating other aquatic organisms. These species eat so much that they can “even eliminate native fish populations” (Invasive Northern Snakehead). This is bad because it's decreasing the population of other fish. Which can leave aquariums without fish to display. Snakeheads reproduce fast which means more fish need to be fed. Another problem caused by eating is making other fish aggressive by eating their food. This leads to having to compete with each other for food. The ecological damage can be so bad since it will cost millions of dollars to fix it (Northern Snakehead, New York). When it comes to environmental damage biologists start to fear that the northern snakehead can catch some diseases or parasites which can spread to native fish. This is dangerous since this invasive species spread rapidly. Other fish catching a disease means that it cannot be sold or eaten which causes a problem in the economy. For example, selling fish is a popular way to make money and if this continues to spread then this will be no longer possible. The northern snakehead can cause problems with the food chain or web that the native fish have in that habitat. This means that some species will increase while others decrease, so they're going to have to find new prey (Northern Snakehead, Maryland.gov). With all the adverse effects these species cause it is important to find a solution to stop this. If it continues to damage the ecological, environmental, and economic conditions then this can be a big threat to the world.
Conclusion: Study, Control, and Eradication
These species are causing problems to the environment which means that they must be stopped. Having control over these invasive species in a big lake can almost be impossible. On the other hand, smaller lakes are much easier to clean. It is bad for the northern snakehead to continue spreading all over the world. To prevent this, people must add Rotenone to the water. This is a toxic chemical that will kill the fish. It is important for only professionals to use this since it can be dangerous. This method may not always work since this aquatic fish can survive on land which escapes the toxic chemicals (Channa argus argus). Another way to take control is to find where the fish lives and place trap nets. This will cause the fish to get stuck in a net and not be able to escape. If a snakehead is caught then it must be killed and then frozen. This can be tricky since this snakehead can breathe on land (Invasive Northern Snakehead). Before killing it is important to gather some information about the fish. This information can include length and location. “The information that you provide is important in determining control and management strategies” (Northern Snakehead, Maryland.gov). If taken care of correctly most likely the spreading of the northern snakehead population will decrease. For now, the channa argus will continue to cause problems in environments and for other fish species.
Works Cited
“Northern Snakehead” Maryland.gov, dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/snakehead
“Northern Snakehead” National Geographic, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals
/fish/facts/northern-snakehead.
“Northern Snakehead.” New York Invasive Species (IS) Information, 2 July 2019, nyis.info/invasive_species/northern-snakehead/.4.