The invasive snakehead fish is killing and out competing our native fish species, taking their food and eating some of the smaller fish species. This paper is going to discuss the environmental effects of the invasive snakeheads.This paper will also talk about their background and possible solutions to keep them from destroying our environment. If you ever see a snakehead or catch one, here are a couple ways to identify the snakehead. They have a long cylindrical body with a large mouth and sharp teeth. They also have enlarged scales on their head. They are often mistaken for a similar native fish species, the bowfin. Ways to tell them apart: Snakehead’s anal fin is long, bowfin’s anal fin is short. Snakehead’s pelvic fin is almost under their
…show more content…
Snakeheads were introduced in 2002 in the state of Maryland. According to National Geographic, “Snakeheads were introduced in a pond in Crofton, Maryland because an elderly lady was suffering from a severe illness and then she got well, so her family released the snakeheads as a token of thanks,” but that’s not all that were found, “Over four adults and at least a hundred juvenile snakeheads were found”.
Some people wonder why it is so hard to get rid of snakeheads. One reason according to the USGS, “A mature northern snakehead can carry as many as 50,000 eggs. It only takes them 3-4 weeks to be able to leave the nest”. Another reason they are so hard to get rid of, according to National Geographic, “Snakeheads grow so fast they escape a lot of predators. There are some birds that consume them and large catfish but, once they reach above five pounds it becomes difficult for herons and eagles to pick them up.”
Snakeheads are a fish, but can move from pond to pond; here's how: Snakeheads, like a snake when out of water, can slither across the ground, which means they can eat underwater and on land, too. The reason they are able to is because they have an extra organ that allows them to get oxygen from the
Snakeheads were introduced in 2002 in the state of Maryland. According to National Geographic, “Snakeheads were introduced in a pond in Crofton, Maryland because an elderly lady was suffering from a severe illness and then she got well, so her family released the snakeheads as a token of thanks,” but that’s not all that were found, “Over four adults and at least a hundred juvenile snakeheads were found”.
Some people wonder why it is so hard to get rid of snakeheads. One reason according to the USGS, “A mature northern snakehead can carry as many as 50,000 eggs. It only takes them 3-4 weeks to be able to leave the nest”. Another reason they are so hard to get rid of, according to National Geographic, “Snakeheads grow so fast they escape a lot of predators. There are some birds that consume them and large catfish but, once they reach above five pounds it becomes difficult for herons and eagles to pick them up.”
Snakeheads are a fish, but can move from pond to pond; here's how: Snakeheads, like a snake when out of water, can slither across the ground, which means they can eat underwater and on land, too. The reason they are able to is because they have an extra organ that allows them to get oxygen from the