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Channa argus

Basic information
Scientific name Channa argus

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カムルチー
Common names Snakehead
Higher taxon Channidae, Perciformes, Actinopterygii
Natural range Continental China from Amur River System to Chang Jiang River, and Korean Peninsula
Habitat Lake, pond, and backwater of stream, with aquatic grass.
Invasion information
Range in Japan Almost entire Japan mainland. Range in Japan
Origin Korean Peninsula
Date 1923-1924
Route Deliberate: Details unknown.
Impact Predation on native species including fishery species.
Native organism(s) affected: Fishes, amphibians, freshwater invertebrates, etc.
Regulation in Japan Introduction of this species is prohibited in Hokkaido, Nagasaki, Yamaguchi, Aichi, Shiga, and Gumma Prefs. For fishes of genus Channa, keeping and release are prohibited in UK, and import and transport are prohibited in USA.
Introduced range in other countries California, Florida, and Maryland, USA. Origin and date unknown.
Reference Notes
  • Ecol Soc Japan (ed) (2002) Handbook of Alien Species in Japan. Chijin-Shokan. (in Jpn)
  • FishBase, accessed on 2010-06-15, http://www.fishbase.org/search.cfm
  • Kawanabe et al. (eds) (2002) Freshwater Fishes of Japan, 3rd ed.. Yama-kei Publishers, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Matsuzawa & Senou (2008) Alien fishes of Japan. Bun-ichi Sogo Shuppan, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • etc.