Species profile
Northern Snakehead
Channa argus
Identify Northern Snakehead (Channa argus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 2 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Northern Snakehead (Channa argus) is a bony-fish species regulated in 4 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Confirmed by 703 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Can breathe atmospheric air using a specialized suprabranchial chamber, surviving out of water for several days if kept moist.
- An invasive species in the U.S., first confirmed in a Maryland pond in 2002.
- Grows up to 33 inches (85 cm) and can weigh over 15 pounds.
- Adults are apex predators that eat fish, frogs, crayfish, and occasionally small birds or mammals.
- Can wriggle short distances overland, helping it colonize new water bodies.
Where Northern Snakehead are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Northern Snakehead
Background
The northern snakehead is a species of snakehead fish native to temperate East Asia, in China, Russia, North Korea, and South Korea. Their natural range goes from the Amur River watershed in Siberia and Manchuria down to Hainan. It is an important food fish and one of the most cultivated in its native region, with 510,000 tonnes annual production worldwide.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Northern Snakehead article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Northern Snakehead?
Northern Snakehead (Channa argus) is a bony-fish species regulated in 4 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Northern Snakehead?
Northern Snakehead is Channa argus.
Is Northern Snakehead regulated for fishing?
Yes — Northern Snakehead has fishing regulations in 2 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Northern Snakehead?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Northern Snakehead along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.