Focal Species: Snakeheads

beasts breathe air, walk on land, grow to gigantic size, and attack humans. Although many of these rumors were overblown, these species do pose a serious threat to invaded ecosystems and are listed as “injurious wildlife” under the Federal Lacey Act. All 28 snakehead species have the ability to breathe air--and some must breathe air or die—which allows them to survive in low oxygen conditions. As adults, they cannot move over land, but juveniles of some snakehead species are known to migrate over land—likely during heavy rains. The two snakehead species established in the U.S. can grow to 3-4 feet long. Although their large teeth are ferocious, these two species do not attack humans. Females of the giant snakehead (Channa micropeltes) have been known to attack humans who approach their eggs, but this species has been found in the U.S. only on a few occasions in areas too cold for it to be able to establish a reproducing population. All snakeheads impact native fish communities through direct predation and occupy a trophic niche similar to that of bass. However, their diet is more narrow than that of bass. Snakeheads prey very heavily on small fishes and the occasional macroinvertebrate, lizard, or small mammal, whereas the diet of bass is more diverse and crayfish are an important prey item.