Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Blotched Snakehead (Channa maculata)

Species that are considered uncertain risk need a more in-depth assessment beyond the Ecological Risk Screening Summary to better define the species’ risk to U.S. environments.

Channa maculata, Blotched Snakehead, is a fish that is native to southeastern China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. It is a carnivorous, air-breathing fish adapted to tropical and warm-temperate environments. This species is important in aquaculture in many Asian countries. This is one of the likely mechanisms of introduction of C. maculata outside of its native range. C. maculata is established in Madagascar, Japan, Hawaii, and the Philippines. C. maculata is a highly-regulated species at the State level in the United States and is also Federally listed as injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act. The History of Invasiveness for Channa maculata is classified as Data Deficient. Although this species has been reported from outside of its native range and some negative impacts of introduction of this species have been suggested, there is a lack of clear and convincing evidence of negative impacts. The climate matching analysis for the contiguous United States indicates establishment concern for C. maculata. In the contiguous United States the climate match was highest in the Southeast, generally medium across the Midwest, and low in the Upper Midwest, West, and Northeast. The Certainty of Assessment for this ERSS is classified as Low due to a lack of information regarding impacts of introduction from which to base an assessment of risk. The Overall Risk Assessment Category for Channa maculata in the contiguous United States is Uncertain.