Asian Swamp Eels Everglades invasion reduced some native crayfish populations by 99%

Invasive python species rampage through the Everglades, but another legless animal is also invading that can survive months of drought.

The Asian Swamp Eel preys on shrimp, worms, and small fish, and a new study says the predator has all but wiped out two species of crayfish. WINK News spoke with one of the authors of the study about the findings to learn more.

Thin, brown, long, unique-looking Asian Swamp Eels are actually considered fish. But, unlike other fish, these eels are uniquely suited to survive in South Florida’s flood and drought conditions.

The swamp eel has both gills and lungs, meaning it can survive on water and land. In a study published on Science Direct, Doctor Mathew Pintar and a team of researchers found that those two crayfish species dropped by 99% since the eel’s invasion of the Everglades in 2007.

“If they continue to have sort of effects, especially on crayfish and smaller fish, like we’ve seen a Taylor Slough, we can see, you know, effects across the trophic levels, you know, potential effects on weight and breeding success. When you take what were, you know, two of the most common species in the whole system, and they’re gone now. It’s, it’s very alarming,” Dr. Pintar said.

The federal government and the State of Florida are set to spend $2,000,000,000 on Everglades restoration projects. The study suggests the spread of the Asian Swamp Eel could diminish the benefits scientists initially expected.