Northern Snakehead Channa argus

The Northern Snakehead is native to rivers and lakes of eastern China, southeastern Russia and the Koreas. It is an aggressive predator that has been introduced to other regions (Central Asia, Eastern Europe and the USA) with detrimental effect on local fish and waterlife. I rarely show images of dead fish (or animals) but for these, in SE Kazakhstan, I make an exception.

The Northern Snakehead's snake-like head, above, and snake-like pattern of scales, top row, shows it is well-named. They can grow to over a metre in length. It can breathe air through its gills for a day or more - long enough to make short journeys overland, again snakelike, to another water source.