Northern snakehead fish have been cast in horror movies. Now they’ve been reeled in on Long Island.
An invasive predator can breathe air, survive out of water and walk on land has been caught in a Suffolk County pond, raising concerns it could spread to Long Island’s largest freshwater lake.
Northern snakehead fish, a species native to Asia that have been nicknamed “Frankenfish” and inspired several horror movies, been hooked in a Long Island pond last week.
Angler Vinny Conwell caught three northern snakeheads in Lily Pond in Suffolk County, according to CBS News. State officials say it is the first known snakehead catch in the county.
Under New York law, anyone who catches a northern snakehead must kill it and report it to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Possessing, transporting or releasing live snakeheads is illegal in the state.
The discovery has raised concerns because Lily Pond sits next to Lake Ronkonkoma, Long Island’s largest freshwater lake and a popular fishing destination.
“These fish can walk on land,” New York DEC regional fisheries manager Heidi O’Riordan said. “They can cross the road.”
The fish don’t walk with feet, but they can live out of water for several days if they remain wet and can move short distances over land by wriggling their bodies and fins. Their ability to breathe air allows them to survive in conditions that would kill many other fish.
Northern snakeheads are torpedo shaped, growing more than 3 feet long and weighing nearly 20 pounds. They have elongated bodies, dark blotches, sharp teeth and a reputation as voracious predators.
Young snakeheads feed on insects and crustaceans. Adults consume fish, frogs and other aquatic animals. Females can spawn multiple times each year and produce thousands of eggs, helping the species spread rapidly once established.
The DEC says snakeheads likely arrive in New York waters through aquarium releases, fish market releases or illegal transport by anglers.
Officials are using electrofishing equipment to search Lily Pond and remove any snakeheads they find before the population can expand.
“We really want to be on top of it and get rid of them quickly because we have Lake Ronkonkoma’s bass wildlife, so having the snakehead move in there would not be a good situation,” O’Riordan said.
The species first gained national attention in 2002 when snakeheads were discovered in a Maryland pond. Fears that the fast-growing predators could damage native ecosystems led to widespread media coverage and helped inspire the fish’s “Frankenfish” reputation. Films loosely based on the fish include Frankenfish, Snakehead Terror and Snakehead Swamp.
Not everyone sees them as villains.
“These fish are so awesome. The fight, everything about them is great,” Conwell said. “It’s a shame that they’ve gotten the reputation they have.”
For New York wildlife officials, however, the goal remains simple: Keep the horror movie fish from becoming a permanent part of the local cast.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Invasive fish that can walk on land and inspired horror movies caught in NY pond
Reporting by Ryan Miller, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
