The climbing perch is every conservationist ’s nightmare . The incursive species can crawl on land and live without pee for an astonishing six days . The fish , know for its ability to stifle its predators , may now be head to Australia after spending the last four ten spreading through Indonesia and Papua New Guinea , with devastating consequence .
The mounting perch ( Anabas testudineus)originates from south - east Asia and has been check on the Torres Strait islands of Boigu and Saibai — Australia ’s most northerly outpost . The fish is ‘ extremely hardy ’ and has successfully outcompeted aboriginal species when populate a new environs . Researchers say it will now be immensely challenging to take the fish from the islands .
The climb perchhas been take note hibernating for up to six months in the mud of dry - up brook beds . Researcher Dr. Nathan Waltham toldThe Guardianthe Pisces the Fishes has “ lung ” similar to human being , which allow it to “ emit atmosphere on land . ” The mounting perch is even able to get itself out of the trickiest of position by puff up up when accept by large predators , such as birds and other fish . As a solution , the predator ’s throat is blocked and the animal ends up choke or starving to expiry .
While the climb rod is unbelievable to get to Australia by swim , Waltham fears it could “ arrive in the bottom of a sportfishing sauceboat or as discarded bouncy - bait Pisces . ”
“ We are now actively monitor Climbing Perch in our wetland and educate local fisherman to describe sightings . It is authoritative we do n’t allow them travel beyond our Island , ” he enounce in astatement .
There is , however , some evidence that suggest the freshwater fish is able to brook brine . “ It does seem to be able to handle a trivial bit of salt . In our trip up there in December we find it in some hyper saline water holes , so there is some ability to resist exposure , ” Waltham adds .
researcher are now investigating the climbing perch ’s permissiveness to seawater and specific temperature in the lab . They ’re also consider just how tight the mounting rod is capable to move across dissimilar type of terrain .
