Oriental Weatherloach
Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
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Photo credit: Manoel Jr. CC BY-SA 2.0
Misgurnus anguillicaudatus - Oriental weatherloach
Habitat:
Description:
Origin and Distribution:
Impacts:
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
How could it get here?
Prevent Spread
Current Legislation Position (Listed on 07 August 2025): This species must not intentionally be brought into the Union; kept; bred; transported to, from or within the United Kingdom, unless for the transportation to facilities in the context of eradication; placed on the market; used or exchanged; permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated; or released into the environment. For further queries, you can contact the Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) Team in the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on 028 9056 9558 or Email: invasivespecies@daera-ni.gov.uk
Misgurnus anguillicaudatus - Oriental weatherloach
Habitat:
- Found in shallow, slow-moving or stagnant freshwaters
- A preference for soft mud or silt substrates
- Often found in macrophyte beds
- Can tolerate extreme conditions
- Can survive dry periods by burrowing into the mud
Description:
- A freshwater fish with an eel-like body
- Around 10-20cm on average, but can grow up to 28cm
- Greenish grey-brown marbled markings dorsally
- Pale silver colour ventrally
- A small, narrow mouth surrounded by 6 barbels
- 9 dorsal rays, 6-7 pelvic ray and 7-8 anal rays
Origin and Distribution:
- Native to Eastern Asia from Siberia, south to northern Vietnam, including Japan
- Now present globally, including the United States, Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands
Impacts:
- Compete with native fish for food, habitat and spawning sites
- Can outcompete native fish due to their broad diet and high year-round reproductive capability
- Can carry parasites and viruses that can be transmitted to native sepcies
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
- No, it is not present in Northern Ireland
How could it get here?
- Most likely through the ornamental pet trade
- Through the accidental or deliberate release by aquarium owners
- Could be used as live bate
Prevent Spread
- Report all sightings
- Never dispose of aquarium contents into the wild
- You can help by reporting any sightings:@ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Current Legislation Position (Listed on 07 August 2025): This species must not intentionally be brought into the Union; kept; bred; transported to, from or within the United Kingdom, unless for the transportation to facilities in the context of eradication; placed on the market; used or exchanged; permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated; or released into the environment. For further queries, you can contact the Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) Team in the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on 028 9056 9558 or Email: invasivespecies@daera-ni.gov.uk