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Species
Channa (argus) argus (Cantor, 1842)
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
This taxon is one of a number of benthopelagic species in the Amur River system. Benthopelagic river fish are found near the bottom of the water column, feeding on benthos and zooplankton
The persistence of mercury contamination in Amur River bottom sediments is a major issue, arising from historic cinnabar mining in the basin and poor waste management practises, especially in the communist Soviet era, where industrial development was placed ahead of sound conservation practises.
Other large benthopelagic river fish of the Amur Basin is the 200 cm yellowcheek (Elopichthys bambusa) and the 122 cm Mongolian redfin (Chanodichthys mongolicus)
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | C. Michael Hogan, C. Michael Hogan |
Source | http://www.eoearth.org/article/Amur_River?topic=78166 |
Can stay out of the water for 3 to 4 days at temperatures ranging from 10 to 15°C (Ref. 37350).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Pascualita Sa-a, FishBase |
Source | No source database. |
The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.
There is 1 barcode sequence available from BOLD and GenBank.
Below is the sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.
See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen.
Other sequences that do not yet meet barcode criteria may also be available.
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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 26
Specimens with Barcodes: 28
Species With Barcodes: 1
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Channa+argus |
Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Channa+argus |
The Northern snakehead (Channa argus) is a freshwater, air-breathing fish from the snakehead family (Channidae), native to China, Russia, North Korea and South Korea. It grows to about 1 meter long and 7 kg, and is a voracious top predator, feeding in schools mostly on fish but also aquatic and land invertebrates and amphibians. Northern snakeheads live preferentially in slow-running streams or stagnant ponds and swamps with muddy bottoms and aquatic vegetation. In many areas of the world, Channa is considered a desirable food fish and C. argus has been introduced (intentionally or not) to non-native areas in Asia, Russia, the Middle East, Japan, Europe, and several areas in the continental United States. In the United States, this hardy fish is considered to be a highly invasive species and a significant threat to native fish, especially as it can live out of water for up to four days, is tolerant to freezing, highly fecund and can wriggle itself across land so has great potential to spread. Established populations were first found in Crofton, Maryland in 2002. The (successful) eradication of about 100 individuals was highly publicized and fictionalized in two horror movies, Snakehead Terror and Frankenfish. Established populations are known in the Potomac river basin and in Arkansas. Since 2002 possession of Northern snakehead has been banned in 14 states and all species of snakehead (Channidae) were added to the federal register of injurious wildlife species; the US Fish and Wildlife Service prohibits importation of this species into the US and their inter-state transportation.
(Courtenay 2009; USDA National Agricultural Library, 2011; USGS Southeast Ecological Science Center 2011; Wikipedia 16 February 2012; February 22, 2012 ; 18 February 2012)
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Text modified from Wikipedia |
Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Snakehead_%28fish%29&oldid=477262246 |
Not Evaluated
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Susan M. Luna, FishBase |
Source | http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=4799 |
Can stay out of the water for 3 to 4 days at temperatures ranging from 10 to 15°C (Ref. 37350). Is a typical ambush predator that lies in wait for its prey on the bottom. Hunts mainly in the morning and in the evening, feeding primarily on fish (Ref. 12569). Matures at the age of 2 years and length of 30 cm. Spawns in June and July (Ref. 56557). Eggs are pelagic. Utilized for human consumption.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Susan M. Luna, FishBase |
Source | http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=4799 |
fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Susan M. Luna, FishBase |
Source | http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=4799 |