These live Asian swamp eels were imported from southeast Asia and sold in an urban food market in the U.S. Raw or undercooked Asian swamp eels could transmit a parasitic infection called gnathostomiasis to consumers, and wild eels could become widespread in some U.S. waters.
How can the spread of Asian swamp eels be prevented?
The USGS focus is to document the eel’s geographic distribution and to learn as much as possible about its behavior and biology. The resulting information is considered critical in helping to develop strategies aimed at containing or controlling its spread. Meanwhile, catching and transporting Asian swamp eels for use as bait, food, or aquarium pets is highly discouraged.
Related Content
How can the spread of Asian swamp eels be prevented?
The USGS focus is to document the eel’s geographic distribution and to learn as much as possible about its behavior and biology . The resulting information is considered critical in helping to develop strategies aimed at containing or controlling its spread. Meanwhile, catching and transporting Asian swamp eels for use as bait, food, or aquarium pets is highly discouraged.
How can the spread of zebra mussels be prevented?
The USGS documents the zebra mussel's geographic distribution and studies its behavior and biology. The resulting information is critical in helping to develop strategies aimed at containing and controlling the mussel's spread. Meanwhile, catching and transporting zebra mussels for use as bait, food, and aquarium pets is highly discouraged. We also encourage good boat hygiene: Wash your boat off...
How is the USGS helping to prevent the spread of the brown treesnake?
Preventing the spread of the invasive brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) is paramount. Without rigorous prevention, control (let alone removal) of an introduced reptile species is extremely difficult. In the case of the brown treesnake, prevention efforts include working to detect stowaway snakes before they leave the island, as well as extreme vigilance on islands where the snakes are most...
Can invasive pythons be eradicated?
The odds of eradicating an introduced population of reptiles once it has spread across a large area is very low – pointing to the importance of prevention, early detection, and rapid response. With the Burmese python now distributed across more than a thousand square miles of southern Florida, including all of Everglades National Park and across the southern coast to Rookery Bay National Estuarine...
Is it possible to eradicate Invasive carp once they are in an area?
Eradicating an established population of invasive carp would be extremely difficult and expensive, if possible at all. Potential control methods include the use of fish poisons, physical barriers, physical removal, habitat alteration, or the addition of predators, parasites, or pathogens. Research on invasive carp control is ongoing and documents on the subject are provided through the Invasive...
What is an invasive species and why are they a problem?
An invasive species is an introduced, nonnative organism (disease, parasite, plant, or animal) that begins to spread or expand its range from the site of its original introduction and that has the potential to cause harm to the environment, the economy, or to human health. A few well-known examples include the unintentional introduction of the West Nile virus, chestnut blight, the South American...
These live Asian swamp eels were imported from southeast Asia and sold in an urban food market in the U.S. Raw or undercooked Asian swamp eels could transmit a parasitic infection called gnathostomiasis to consumers, and wild eels could become widespread in some U.S. waters.
These live Asian swamp eels were imported from southeast Asia and sold in an urban food market in the U.S. Raw or undercooked Asian swamp eels could transmit a parasitic infection called gnathostomiasis to consumers, and wild eels could become widespread in some U.S. waters.
These live Asian swamp eels were imported from southeast Asia and sold in an urban food market in the U.S. Raw or undercooked Asian swamp eels could transmit a parasitic infection called gnathostomiasis to consumers, and wild eels could become widespread in some U.S. waters.
Listen to hear the answer.
Starting next Wednesday, July 30, CoreFacts will be delivered once a week instead of daily, in order to bring you better content. Please let us know how you feel about CoreFacts via an e-mail to corecast@usgs.gov. Listen to hear the answer.
Starting next Wednesday, July 30, CoreFacts will be delivered once a week instead of daily, in order to bring you better content. Please let us know how you feel about CoreFacts via an e-mail to corecast@usgs.gov. Listen to hear the answer.
Non-native or introduced populations of Asian Swamp Eels (family: Synbranchidae) exist in the wild in parts of Florida, Georgia, and Hawaii. This video shows predatory behavior of captive individuals.
Non-native or introduced populations of Asian Swamp Eels (family: Synbranchidae) exist in the wild in parts of Florida, Georgia, and Hawaii. This video shows predatory behavior of captive individuals.
Invasive species research—Science for prevention, detection, containment, and control
The National Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database
Imported Asian swamp eels (Synbranchidae: Monopterus) in North American live food markets: Potential vectors of non-native parasites
Related Content
- FAQ
How can the spread of Asian swamp eels be prevented?
The USGS focus is to document the eel’s geographic distribution and to learn as much as possible about its behavior and biology . The resulting information is considered critical in helping to develop strategies aimed at containing or controlling its spread. Meanwhile, catching and transporting Asian swamp eels for use as bait, food, or aquarium pets is highly discouraged.
How can the spread of zebra mussels be prevented?
The USGS documents the zebra mussel's geographic distribution and studies its behavior and biology. The resulting information is critical in helping to develop strategies aimed at containing and controlling the mussel's spread. Meanwhile, catching and transporting zebra mussels for use as bait, food, and aquarium pets is highly discouraged. We also encourage good boat hygiene: Wash your boat off...
How is the USGS helping to prevent the spread of the brown treesnake?
Preventing the spread of the invasive brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) is paramount. Without rigorous prevention, control (let alone removal) of an introduced reptile species is extremely difficult. In the case of the brown treesnake, prevention efforts include working to detect stowaway snakes before they leave the island, as well as extreme vigilance on islands where the snakes are most...
Can invasive pythons be eradicated?
The odds of eradicating an introduced population of reptiles once it has spread across a large area is very low – pointing to the importance of prevention, early detection, and rapid response. With the Burmese python now distributed across more than a thousand square miles of southern Florida, including all of Everglades National Park and across the southern coast to Rookery Bay National Estuarine...
Is it possible to eradicate Invasive carp once they are in an area?
Eradicating an established population of invasive carp would be extremely difficult and expensive, if possible at all. Potential control methods include the use of fish poisons, physical barriers, physical removal, habitat alteration, or the addition of predators, parasites, or pathogens. Research on invasive carp control is ongoing and documents on the subject are provided through the Invasive...
What is an invasive species and why are they a problem?
An invasive species is an introduced, nonnative organism (disease, parasite, plant, or animal) that begins to spread or expand its range from the site of its original introduction and that has the potential to cause harm to the environment, the economy, or to human health. A few well-known examples include the unintentional introduction of the West Nile virus, chestnut blight, the South American...
- Multimedia
Live Asian Swamp Eels Sold in a U.S. Market
These live Asian swamp eels were imported from southeast Asia and sold in an urban food market in the U.S. Raw or undercooked Asian swamp eels could transmit a parasitic infection called gnathostomiasis to consumers, and wild eels could become widespread in some U.S. waters.
These live Asian swamp eels were imported from southeast Asia and sold in an urban food market in the U.S. Raw or undercooked Asian swamp eels could transmit a parasitic infection called gnathostomiasis to consumers, and wild eels could become widespread in some U.S. waters.
Live Asian Swamp Eels Sold in a U.S. MarketThese live Asian swamp eels were imported from southeast Asia and sold in an urban food market in the U.S. Raw or undercooked Asian swamp eels could transmit a parasitic infection called gnathostomiasis to consumers, and wild eels could become widespread in some U.S. waters.
These live Asian swamp eels were imported from southeast Asia and sold in an urban food market in the U.S. Raw or undercooked Asian swamp eels could transmit a parasitic infection called gnathostomiasis to consumers, and wild eels could become widespread in some U.S. waters.
How did Asian swamp eels get here?Listen to hear the answer.
What do Asian swamp eels eat?Starting next Wednesday, July 30, CoreFacts will be delivered once a week instead of daily, in order to bring you better content. Please let us know how you feel about CoreFacts via an e-mail to corecast@usgs.gov. Listen to hear the answer.
Starting next Wednesday, July 30, CoreFacts will be delivered once a week instead of daily, in order to bring you better content. Please let us know how you feel about CoreFacts via an e-mail to corecast@usgs.gov. Listen to hear the answer.
Asian Swamp Eels: Predation on Juvenile Largemouth BassAsian Swamp Eels: Predation on Juvenile Largemouth BassAsian Swamp Eels: Predation on Juvenile Largemouth BassNon-native or introduced populations of Asian Swamp Eels (family: Synbranchidae) exist in the wild in parts of Florida, Georgia, and Hawaii. This video shows predatory behavior of captive individuals.
Non-native or introduced populations of Asian Swamp Eels (family: Synbranchidae) exist in the wild in parts of Florida, Georgia, and Hawaii. This video shows predatory behavior of captive individuals.
- Publications
Invasive species research—Science for prevention, detection, containment, and control
IntroductionInvasive species research within the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Ecosystems Mission Area focuses on invasive plants, animals, and pathogens throughout the United States. USGS scientists provide science support to help solve the problems posed by these nonnative species while working with partners in the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), other Federal, State, and Territorial agAuthorsPaul J. Heimowitz, Patrick M. Kocovsky, James J. EnglishThe National Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Program maintains a database that monitors, records, and analyzes sightings of nonindigenous aquatic plant and animal species throughout the United States. The program is based at the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center in Gainesville, Florida.The initiative to maintain scientific information on nationwide occurrences of noAuthorsMatthew E. Neilson, Pamela L. FullerImported Asian swamp eels (Synbranchidae: Monopterus) in North American live food markets: Potential vectors of non-native parasites
Since the 1990s, possibly earlier, large numbers of Asian swamp eels (Synbranchidae: Monopterus spp.), some wild-caught, have been imported live from various countries in Asia and sold in ethnic food markets in cities throughout the USA and parts of Canada. Such markets are the likely introduction pathway of some, perhaps most, of the five known wild populations of Asian swamp eels present in theAuthorsLeo G. Nico, Paul Sharp, Timothy M. Collins - News