Chinese sleeper

📖 Overview

Occurs in lentic waters, lakes, ponds, backwaters and marshes with dense underwater vegetation and avoids river stretches with fast and even slow current . Prefers stagnant rivers and bogs . Can tolerate poorly oxygenated water and able to survive in dried out or completely frozen water bodies by digging itself into mud where it hibernates. A voracious predatory fish (wide variety of invertebrates, tadpoles and fish) constituting a most serious threat to aquatic fauna wherever it occurs. In small water bodies; known to extirpate almost all other fish species and amphibian larvae. Spawns for the first time at 1-3 years and about 6.0 cm SL. Spawns several potions of eggs in May to June at 15-20°C. Elongated eggs (3.8 x 1.3 mm) with sticky filaments usually deposited in one row close to water surface on underwater structures such as roots, leaves and others. Males guard the eggs and pelagic larvae .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 6 - 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 11; Anal spines: 1 - 3; Anal soft rays: 7 - 10. Distinguished from other European freshwater species by the following characters: 2 dorsals with the first with 6-8 simple rays, and the second with 2-3 simple and 8-12 branched rays; no spines on first dorsal; no barbels; pelvics not fused into a disc; no lateral line canals; males during spawning period, develop a hump on nape and become black with bright green spots on body and unpaired fins .: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Chinese sleeper is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

Spawns several portions of eggs .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; brackish; demersal. Temperate; 15°C - 30°C ; 54°N - 39°N, 106°E - 141°E east one country reports adverse ecological impact after introduction (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🚨 Invasive Species Impact

References: Compiled from IUCN Global Invasive Species Database, USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database, and CABI Invasive Species Compendium.

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