Australia is a land blessed with an impressive collection of dangerous snakes and spiders, a point just about every over-the-top ‘documentary’ on DTSV these days seems determined to drive home.

So why would people be freaking out about a little fish then? Well it turns out this particularly scaly character doesn’t exactly play well with others. The Telegraph reports:

The climbing perch, an invasive and exceedingly aggressive freshwater species which drags itself between waterholes, can survive for up to six days without water and has already made its way to islands off Australia….and could pose a threat to local birds and marine life.

This cheeky bugger has a rather unique way of killing larger creatures, waiting until they are eaten before swelling up and blocking the predator’s throat. If they are not successful in choking the unlucky creature they will simply wait it out and starve them to death, proving that revenge is a dish best served cold.

So how do those Down Under intend on stopping the climbing perch reaching their shores?

Scientists have been working with local communities on small islands north of Australia to assist with preventing it from further advancing.

Herbert Warusam, a ranger on Saibai Island, a Torres Strait island north of Queensland, said: “We are now actively monitoring climbing perch in our wetlands and educating local fisherman to report sightings. It is important we don’t let them travel beyond our Island.”

Australians not welcoming those that arrive via the sea to their shores – now there’s something that will come as a surprise to no one.

[source:telegraph]