Snakehead fishes (Channa spp.) in the USA

Abstract

The introduction of snakeheads from their origins in Asia is relatively recent to the conterminous United States with the first of many collections beginning in the late 1990s. For decades they have been commercially fished and aquacultured around the world for human food and, to a lesser degree, for the aquarium trade. Over a dozen snakehead species known to be of economic importance outside the US, five have been introduced into the United States. Three of the four species collected in open waters have successfully established reproducing populations. The most widespread is a temperate species, Northern Snakehead Channa argus , primarily found in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The other two snakehead species that established populations are the Bullseye Snakehead Channa marulius in the state of Florida and Blotched Snakehead Channa maculata in the state of Hawai’i. A fifth species, Chevron Snakehead Channa striata , is also present in Hawai’i, but only in aquaculture, not in open waters. Introductions of snakehead fishes into the United States were most likely the result of the popularity of this group of fishes in Asia.