Hong Kong Discovers Invasive Alligator Gar: Owners Dumped Fish After They Got Too Big - AFP

[hatrack]

Finally! China gets an invasive species from US!!!

Hong Kong has launched a search of ponds in public parks after at least 16 fish of an exotic species that can grow up to three metres (10 feet) long were discovered, apparently dumped by their owners when they grew too big.

A metre-long alligator gar was caught Friday in a park pond after reports that visitors feared for their safety, the South China Morning Post reported on Saturday.

The fierce-looking creatures get their name from their long snout, which resembles that of an alligator. While they are an aggressive and carnivorous species, they are not known to attacks humans.

Native to North America, alligator gars are commonly sold in Hong Kong for home aquariums when they are less than 30 centimetres (one foot) long but can grow to three metres and weigh up to 140 kilograms (300 pounds).

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Monster_exotic_fish_found_in_Hong_Kong_ponds_999.html

[hobbit709]

1. We get snakeheads, they get gars.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. gars look like a throwback to the age of dinosaurs.

Saw one caught, a huge, ugly sucker. Two guys pulled him in.

Tasted pretty good, though.