Notes on the Fecundity and Egg Diameter of Northern Snakehead (Channa argus) from Upper Chesapeake Bay, Maryland

Joseph W. Love*

*Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 580 Taylor Avenue, B-2, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Northeastern Naturalist, Volume 31, Issue 3 (2024): 300–312

First published early online: 3 August 2024

Abstract
Little information on fecundity has been published for Channa argus (Northern Snakehead), the most invasive and widespread species of Channidae in North America, neither in its native nor introduced range. I examined specimens collected from fish lifts at the Conowingo Dam in the lower Susquehanna River. Gonad mass averaged 67 g (18 g–154 g) for females with an average total length of 614.7mm (490 mm–72 mm) and mass of 2533 g (1237 g–4155 g). Female gonadosomatic index averaged 0.028 or 2.8% (standard deviation = 0.01; min–max = 0.9–8.5%). Average fecundity (63,569 eggs/female; min–max = 21,790 –213,180 eggs/female) was similar to that reported for other native and introduced populations and increased with female mass. Two peaks in egg diameter were apparent with diameters varying between 210 and 700 μm (average = 1032 μm, SE = 26.7; n = 1223). Ancillary collections in July yielded ovaries with 19% fewer eggs than expected by female mass, but greater egg sizes (average = 1411 μm). Results indicate that females could partially spawn during spring, retain inchoate eggs that mature for later spawns, and spawn again in summer or fall.

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