Is it a fish? Is it a snake? No, it is a snakehead fish.
For less than the fourth time within the state of Missouri, an angler caught a northern snakehead fish that isn’t native to the U.S.
Fisheries biologists with the Missouri Division of Conservation (MDC) confirmed the catch occurred on Could 25 in Wayne County, in accordance with a current press launch.
OKLAHOMA BOY CATCHES EXOTIC FISH IN NEIGHBORHOOD POND: ‘HUMAN-LIKE TEETH’
The predatory fish has a head that resembles a snake and a physique that might develop as much as 3 ft in size with a “python-like coloration and sample.”
“The angler acknowledged that they had one thing completely different and researched the fish’s traits, and realized it was certainly a snakehead,” MDC Fisheries Biologist Dave Knuth mentioned, in accordance with the discharge.
“The angler left it on the pavement for a number of hours pondering it could die, and it by no means did.”
The snakehead was finally transported to the native U.S. Military Corps of Engineers (ACOE) workplace and recovered by an MDC conservation agent 4 hours after the fish had been left in a bag, the MDC reported within the launch.
GEORGIA ANGLER HOOKS UNIQUE-LOOKING FISH, SNAGS STATE RECORD TWO MONTHS AFTER IT’S BROKEN
“After I picked up the fish, it was nonetheless very a lot alive,” Jacob Plunkett, an MDC Wayne County conservation agent, mentioned.
Together with the fish’s snake-like look, the species can breathe air and slither throughout the bottom to get to a physique of water.
It is skill to breathe air permits it to outlive in “poorly oxygenated water or out of water for a number of days” so long as its pores and skin stays moist, the MDC reported.
“Snakeheads are an invasive species native to Asia. They’re aggressive predators, preying on native species, and competing for assets,” the MDC’s launch mentioned.
COLORADO ANGLER HELPS AUTHORITIES CRACK DOWN ON GIGANTIC INVASIVE FISH: ‘HIGHLY UNUSUAL’
The primary time a northern snakehead was recorded in Missouri was in 2019, after being caught in a borrow ditch in Dunklin County.
The invasive snakehead fish, native to Asia, has been recorded in Missouri for the fourth time. The snakehead caught on Could 25 (not pictured) in Wayne County was transported to the native U.S. Military Corps of Engineers (ACOE) workplace and recovered by an MDC conservation agent. Wappapello Lake is pictured right here, which belongs to the world the place the snakehead was captured. (Recreation.gov; iStock)
The opposite two northern snakeheads confirmed by the MDC have been captured in 2023.
The MDC shared a collection of things to examine off in case you are available contact with the invasive fish.
Make sure that the fish is definitely a snakehead and never a local boffin, which is a standard mistake.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Don’t launch the fish or throw it alongside the financial institution. As a substitute, {photograph} the fish so the MDC can positively determine the species and pay attention to the placement during which it was caught.
Snakeheads can breathe air and slither alongside the bottom to get to a brand new physique of water after spending hours and even days out of water, so long as their pores and skin stays moist. (iStock)
Kill the fish by severing the top from the physique, gutting it or inserting it in a sealed bag.
Be sure you report any catches or sightings of the northern snakehead fish to the MDC, the company mentioned.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
Fox Information Digital reached out to the MDC for remark.
For extra Way of life articles, go to www.foxnews.com/life-style.
