ANNOYING ASIAN SWAMP EEL

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

MONOPTERUS ALBUS

photo courtesy Leo G. Nico, USGS, Gainesville, FL

The Asian Swamp Eel is a non-native species that has moved from its native home in Asia and has found a new non-native home in the U.S.A. Researchers think the Asian Swamp Eel escaped by a fish farm release or an aquarium release. It arrived first in Georgia and Florida, and is now spreading up the Mississippi River. It is dangerous because it is breaking the food chain by eating frogs ,invertebrates and fish. It can also live out of water for a long period of time and can withstand temperatures below freezing.

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