The fish were discovered in a freshwater pond in Manatee County, Florida, about 250-km from the only other known population of this species in the United States, which has existed in Broward County, Florida, since about 2000. Get animals in your inbox! Sign up to receive Zoo emails.The freshwater pond in Manatee County where an established snakehead population was discovered in 2020.Ī population of non-native aggressive, air-breathing fish known as the goldline snakehead (formerly known as “bullseye snakehead”) was documented for the first time in the Gulf Coast region, the U.S. This story appears in the September 2021 issue of National Zoo News. Snakeheads are a prime example of how invasive species can upset the delicate balance of local ecosystems. At the same time, populations of local frogs and fish that they prey upon have declined. With no natural predators to keep this aggressive, carnivorous fish in check, their populations have boomed. It is likely snakeheads were imported from overseas, then unlawfully released. Snakeheads are native to Southern Siberia, China and North Korea, but they were first spotted in waterways around the Washington, D.C., area in 2002. Our snakehead fish are ambassadors for their species, and they serve as an important reminder of why people should never release unwanted animals-especially non-native species-into the wild. If they aren’t swimming around when you first approach the exhibit, look closely at the bottom or in between the rock crevices-they are likely resting there! What do you hope visitors learn from meeting these fish? Snakeheads sport scales that are brown with dark, irregular blotches. Our only male seems quite shy and hides most of the time. Our most dominant female always eats first. When they notice keepers opening the door above the tank, they will swim up to the top and wait to be fed. The females often hunt for food together. They will even eat worms off of a feed stick! What are their personalities like? At the Zoo, we feed them mostly goldfish and crayfish. In the wild, they eat fish that are up to one-third their own body length, as well as frogs, beetles and dragonfly larvae. I’ve never worked with fish before, so taking care of them is all new to me! Feeding the snakeheads has been a fun and interesting experience. This enables it to survive for up to four days on land! What do you enjoy most about working with them? On land, it can take a big gulp of air through its mouth and continue to breathe, thanks to a specialized chamber next to its gills. Underwater, a snakehead absorbs oxygen through its gills, just like other fish. Snakehead fish have evolved to “walk” on land! They propel themselves forward by moving their head and back fin in opposite directions. What is your favorite fact about snakeheads? Get acquainted with this aquatic species from assistant curator of giant pandas Laurie Thompson. Recently, Asia Trail keepers welcomed four snakeheads-one male and three females-into their care. With an aggressive attitude, an eager appetite for fish and the ability to “walk” on land, the northern snakehead fish is a powerful predator.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |