Re: NANFA-- Snakeheads & Bowfins

Scott Davis (unclescott_at_prodigy.net)
Mon, 1 Jul 2002 23:44:57 -0500

> How could a tropical fish have a population that far north?

Chris Scharpf mentioned that it was from China - which like the US is a big
place, with an awful lot of habitats and climates. A number of years ago,
FAMA ran a series on the fishes of the Amur River - which is a coastal river
dividing northern China and Russia. (For a time in the 70s it gave each
country's armies something to glare across.)

That series (allowing for senior moments and the passing of time) mentioned
Channa species. At least one installment specifically noted that a lot of
the Asian tropical species had close relations in the Amur. Loaches were
prominent. I want to say that there are even anabantids surprisingly far
north.

Ask any American Vetern who served in Korea about winters.

Ed Venn has also mentioned some related species living in Honshu.

That does increase the number of North American habitats which potentially
could be colonized by Chinese expatriots.

All the best!

Scott
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