enemigo

I just ran across recent news reports about the Asian snakehead fish that has been found in the wild in about 7 states here in the US.

This fish that has snake-like scales on its head, and can walk on land, and stay out of water for up to 3 days seems to me to be exactly like what a transitional species between fish -> reptile would look like. Can anyone direct me to some good information on this animal?


richard

[ July 23, 2002: Message edited by: enemigo ]</p>

scigirl

Hey richard,

Do you have any web links on the subject? Sounds cool,

scigirl

simian

Here's what I have (not much on detail, but some info):

<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/wire/SciTech/ap20020720_319.html" target="_blank">http://abcnews.go.com/wire/SciTech/ap20020720_319.html</a>

<a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=570&ncid=753&e=4&u=/nm/20020723/sc_nm/environment_snakehead_dc_10" target="_blank">http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=570&ncid=753&e=4&u=/nm/20020723/sc_nm/environment_snakehead_dc_10</a>

There are others out there. I didn't bookmark them as they came up. There are several US species that also can survive out of water for extended times due to having a "half a lung" (float bladder that also serves as an extra oxygen exchange medium) two that come off the top of my head are the gar (several species) and the bowfin, although it sounds like the snakehead is more mobile on land.

Simian

enemigo

Here are a couple more links about the ones found in the US:

<a href="http://animal.discovery.com/news/animalalert/reu/20020703/fishalarm.html" target="_blank">http://animal.discovery.com/news/animalalert/reu/20020703/fishalarm.html</a>

<a href="http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml;jsessionid=ZZ03SMTRMWYJCCRBAEKS FEY?type=sciencenews&StoryID=1239311" target="_blank">http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml;jsessionid=ZZ03SMTRMWYJCCRBAEKS FEY?type=sciencenews&StoryID=1239311</a>


richard

Duvenoy

And that ain't all. For some years Flordia has been plagued by a species of catfish from Asia, the Walking Catfish (Calicyhtis calicythis, if I've spelled that right). It is a fairly large, very agressivive animal that is doing a lot of damage to native species. Like the snakehead, it became established when idiots released aquarum 'pets' that had out-grown their quarters. Like the snakehead, it happily travles overland, populating new territories as it goes. These animals are much less desirable than the natives they are replacing.

In FL especally, this is a serious problem. The state now has established populations of cane toad, specticaled caimen, Cuban anole, several geckos including the tokay, green iguana, a number of snakes, possibly including Burmese python and common boa. I have had a report of a sighting of an neonate, monicled cobra. There are more yet, tropical fish especally, too many to list here.

The origins of virtually all of these were escaped or released, captive specmens. All of them are damaging to native species in that they either compete for resources with a minium of predation, or they feed on the species themselves.

The cane toad (Bufo marinis) is a prime example. These animals grow to about the size (and appearance) of a medium cow plop. They will eat anything that they can swallow, including mice and rats, small snakes, other toads and frogs, dog kibble, you name it. Their only enemy is the automobile due to venom-producing glands on the head. Eat one and die (lick one and hallucinate, or so I've been told).

Folks, if your Astronautaus oselatus (oscar) gets too big, fry it up for supper. DON'T inflict it on the enviornment.

My mini-rant for the day. Sorry if I've hi-jacked, but this is a pet peeve of mine that will put me in the pulpit every time.



doov

Coragyps

A short web search turned up the Linnaean name: Channa argus; that they are very tasty; and that they eat nearly anything they can catch. There are 25 related species - they are fairly common in SE Asia and China. I haven't found enogh in the way of scientific sites to know what they are related to.

SCOMBRID!! Where are you?!

Automaton

USELESS FACTOID ALERT! Uh, that's the desert cane toad, a different bufo.

Ought Naught

Is bufo bufo the psychedelic one?

Grumpy

In the headlights, do you mean? I didn't see any glands there last time I changed the bulb. I'll have to check again -- carefully!

Valentine Pontifex

I assume you mean fish to amphibian and not fish to reptile...

Actually this is NOT a transitional between amphibians and fish. (Of course there are
plenty of real ones.) It does however show that idea of a fish being able to survive on land is not at all impossible as some creationists would suggest.