Northern Snakehead (Freshwater Fishes Book 2, first and second release by Yujin)

This figure is the Northern Snakehead, Channa argus , model 24 and figure 9 from the second series. These large, strictly freshwater predators are naturally found in the Korean Peninsula, China and Russia. Given the northern range, it is not surprising that they are cold tolerant, and have since been introduced to several other places including the US, Japan and parts of Europe (so far Canada has kept them out, but they are heading to the Great Lakes, so we’ll see how that goes) edit–at least no established populations since this was written.

They are considered a food source, which explains their widespread occurrence; their large size, adaptability and voracious appetites, however, can be disastrous for local ecosystems, especially ones where the original top predators (like gars) have been removed or reduced, letting the northern snakehead become the top fish wherever it is found. They are also faculative air breathers, able to survive for short times out of water and possibly find new bodies of water by crawling across dry land, which makes them even harder to contain. The Yujin model gives a length of 90cm, but several other online sources gave a largest-known length of 150cm!

This was actually one of my first two Yujin freshwater fish figures, because despite the terrible havoc they can play when introduced, they are such cool fish—I’ve only kept a much smaller, more docile snakehead species but I have seen these ones in aquaria, and they can be very impressive. This is also one of my favorite Yujin fish models, and one of the few where I have more than one. Which means I do have both the first and second release models (I did have the second release first though). And even multiples of the second release one for…reasons?

This model measures 7cm long, giving a scale of 1:13 with the Yujin value; using the longest length of 150cm, the scale would be more like 1:21. The model is sculpted in a cruising pose, with pectoral fins pressed tight to the body, slightly curved with big bright eyes. The second release version of the figure does a great job capturing the light brown base-colouring with dark brown blotches forming bands along the sides. The figure does a great job illustrating a key colouring feature, two thick brown bands at the base of the tail, the posterior-most of which does not have any light markings behind it. The rest of the body has variable brown washes over it, giving the fish a life-like colouring.

The fins are all translucent yellow or brown. The base that this one is on is the same as the arowana one, essentially a mound of river bottom with branches, but completely grey. This is, as far as I have found so far, the only snakehead model that has been made, although I would like to be proven wrong.  I already mentioned the Yujin First Release version, which maybe I’ll pick up some day, but otherwise these fish are mostly ignored as toys. EDIT — clearly I did pick up the earlier version. It’s still mostly a valid statement–Toy Fish Factory made a Giant Snakehead, and a couple figures were included with a set from Deagostni, but that’s about it right now.

To compare the Release 1 figure, the overall pattern difference is striking. (From pictures, the First Release of this figure from Yujin looks more like a different species like C. maculatus even if it is not supposed to be). The R1 figure is more yellow, with less shading and bands of black; the R2 has markings of brown only, with a fine shading from dark to very light brown. The heads are especially different, with fewer, thicker black stripes on the R1 compared to the more detailed brown marking on the R2.

The Northern Snakehead is also the first of the Series II fishes two come in two pieces, with the head coming off at the opercula.

Starting on the 14th of January, 2024, I migrated my first Yujin Freshwater Fish Pictorial walkaround post from the Animal Toy Forum to this blog, with the intention of moving all species’/figures’ walkarounds here. The initial post contained a lengthy explanation of the series (both the original and updated) that I don’t think should be repeated each time! For those details, the post can be seen at the first post. Then we can just get to the fish. Most of the details and writing will come from the original post, although I may supplement/add where appropriate.

From the original forum post:

• Brontodocus: Ah, wonderful!  A channid, that’s something still missing in my collection.
• Sbell: I know! They’re such cool fish–and widespread, whether that’s good or not? There are really soooo many fish families that aren’t represented in figures. Trout and goldfish are fine, but we need more variety!
• Jetoar: I didnt know that Yuijin had done a figure of this species  .
• Beetle Guy: All these fishes look beautiful!
• AcroSauroTaurus: I love Snakehead fish. Awesome figure!
• Sbell: Of the First & Second releases, getting both snakeheads was a plus for me–snakeheads don’t otherwise get made as figures.