Invasive Land-Surviving Fish Raises Alarm for New Jersey Anglers

There's a warning out for New Jersey anglers after an invasive species of fish was caught in the Schuylkill River in Chester County, PA, this month.

This Strange Fish Can Survive On Land For Days

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And this fish may take the cake for the strangest thing you've heard of in a while.

The fish in question is an invasive species that's native to parts of Asia, but has been popping up in the United States over the past couple of years.

What Is A Northern Snakehead, And Why Is It Dangerous?

What's so dangerous about this species of fish is that it has the ability to survive out of the water and on land for several days.

It's called a Northern Snakehead, and it can not only survive on land for several days, but it also has razor-sharp teeth which it uses to hunt prey up to a third of its size.

How Big Can A Northern Snakehead Get?

And Nothern Snakehead is no joke, it can weigh up to 20 pounds and be three feet long.

The Northern Snakehead being caught in the Schuylkill River in Chester County is alarming because the Schuylkill is connected to the Garden State via the Delaware River.

READ MORE: A Great White Shark Was Spotted Off The Coast Of Monmouth County, NJ

Patch reports that the Northern Snakehead is able to expand its territory rapidly and disturb the ecosystem rapidly, as it disrupts the food chain and can outcompete native area fish.

What To Do If You Catch a Northern Snakehead In NJ

If you ever catch a Northern Snakehead, wildlife officials advise that the fish must be killed on sight in order to prevent the spread from getting any worse.

If that's not something you want to do, don't just throw the fish back into the water; you should call wildlife officials so they can take the fish in to be studied.