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Fish that can crawl on land are scaring the hell out of Australians

The aggressive climbing perch has lungs as well as gills, can live out of water for up to six days

The walking fish
The walking fish


Does the thought of the aggressive climbing perch fill you will fear? Probably not.

It should however - if you’re involved in the conservation of fish and bird species in Australian wetlands as this bizarre fish has arrived.

The aggressive climbing perch is able to crawl on land and can live out of water for up to six days due to the fact it has lungs as well as gills.

In addition, this native fish of Papua New Guinea suffocates predators both birds and other fish by swelling up thus blocking the larger creature’s windpipe.

Nathan Waltham, an ecologist from James Cook University was reported by the Guardian stating that if this perch spreads throughout Australia - a ‘major disaster’ could await indigenous wetland fish, turtles and birdlife.

He added: ‘When they populate an area they’re not commonly found in, they can disrupt the balance of that habitat.’

While only a few have been spotted in Northern Australia – scientists are still very concerned due to its ability to invade an area and kill off key members of the food chain.

For many of us the revelation about this news is that there is a fish that has lungs as well as gills – could have come in handy for the Little Mermaid.