Northern Snakehead Channa argus (Cantor, 1842)Non-native  -  Invasive    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Actinopterygii   >   Order Perciformes   >   Family Channidae   >   Genus Channa   

Status:

"In 2002, a reproducing population of northern snakeheads was discovered in a pond in Crofton, Maryland. The snakeheads were exterminated and subsequently assigned injurious wildlife status under the Federal Lacey Act which prohibits import and interstate transport. A mid-Atlantic Aquatic Nuisance Species council was formed and a management plan for northern snakeheads was drafted. Despite intense media and political attention, increased awareness did not serve to prevent further introductions. In 2004, northern snakeheads were found in the Potomac River near the nation's capitol and have since established a reproducing population." (MD DNR) The species continues to expand into other Bay tributaries.

USGS map of sightings.

There are 139 records in the project database.

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A Northern Snakehead (27 inches, 6.5 pounds) caught in Howard Co., Maryland (6/24/2017). Photo by Ben Leonard. (MBP list)

Northern Snakeheads caught in Howard Co., Maryland (6/21/2016). Photo by Ben Leonard. (MBP list)

A Northern Snakehead in Calvert Co., Maryland (2/17/2020). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

Northern Snakehead in Calvert Co., Maryland (10/23/2020). (c) Rin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA). Photo by rinwolfe via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Snakehead in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/13/2021). (c) drennack, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by drennack via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Northern Snakehead caught in Charles Co., Maryland (8/7/2012). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

Northern Snakehead in Talbot Co., Maryland (6/5/2022). (c) jared satchell, all rights reserved. Photo by Jared Satchell. (MBP list)

Northern Snakehead in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/31/2023). (c) Scot Magnotta, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Scot Magnotta via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Snakehead in Dorchester Co., Maryland (4/15/2019). (c) jared satchell, all rights reserved. Photo by Jared Satchell. (MBP list)

A young Northern Snakehead captured in Calvert Co., Maryland (6/23/2018). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A Northern Snakehead caught by a Great Blue Heron in Howard Co., Maryland (10/5/2019). Photo by Clayton Koonce. (MBP list)

Northern Snakehead in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/3/2021). (c) michaelthefish, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by michaelthefish via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Northern Snakehead caught in the Chicamacamico River in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/23/2016). Photo by Steve Lofgren. (MBP list)

A Northern Snakehead in Calvert Co., Maryland (6/6/2019). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

A closeup of a young Northern Snakehead in Calvert Co., Maryland (6/23/2018). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Northern Snakehead in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/28/2020). (c) Rin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA). Photo by rinwolfe via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A juvenile Northern Snakehead in Calvert Co., Maryland (6/23/2018). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A juvenile Northern Snakehead in Calvert Co., Maryland (6/23/2018). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A Northern Snakehead in the mouth of a Great Blue Heron in Dorchester Co., Maryland (3/20/2019). Photo by Michael McCloskey. (MBP list)

Northern Snakehead in Dorchester Co., Maryland (10/30/2021). (c) matt whitbeck, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by matt_whitbeck via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Snakehead in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/17/2018). (c) wimper, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by wimper via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A juvenile Northern Snakehead in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/21/2018). (c) jpg2289, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by jpg2289 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Snakehead in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/25/2020). (c) oriolekec1, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by oriolekec1 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Snakehead in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/20/2020). (c) mongroovington, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by mongroovington via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Snakehead in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/25/2020). (c) oriolekec1, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by oriolekec1 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Snakehead in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/22/2021). (c) clarabenadon, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by clarabenadon via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Northern Snakehead found dead in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/12/2016). Photo by Warren Steiner. (MBP list)

A juvenile Northern Snakehead in Calvert Co., Maryland (7/30/2017). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

A Northern Snakehead in Harford Co., Maryland (5/12/2018). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

Northern Snakehead falling prey to a Northern River Otter in Prince George's Co., Maryland (12/6/2019). (c) Matt Felperin, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Matt Felperin via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Snakehead falling prey to a Northern River Otter in Prince George's Co., Maryland (12/6/2019). (c) Matt Felperin, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Matt Felperin via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Snakehead falling prey to an Osprey in Dorchester Co., Maryland (5/28/2023). (c) Dennis Tarnay, Jr., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND). Photo by Dennis Tarnay, Jr. via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Snakehead in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/3/2021). (c) bilb007, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by bilb007 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)


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MBP marks as "Invasive" any taxon listed in the Maryland Invasive Species Council (MISC) list of Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland. You can read their criteria and review the lists here: https://mdinvasives.org/species-of-concern/.