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(CNN) - For the first time, a kind of invasive fish that can breathe air and survive on land has been found in Georgia, USA. And officials are asking anyone to contact the species to kill her immediately.
A fisherman caught the northern snakehead fish this month in a pond in Gwinnett County, the Wildlife Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday.
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"Thanks to a fisherman's quick report, our staff was able to investigate and confirm the presence of this species in this body of water," said Matt Thomas, head of fisheries for the Division of Wildlife Resources.
"We are now taking steps to determine if they have spread from this body of water and, hopefully, prevent it from spreading to other Georgian waters."
While this is the first time it has been discovered in Georgia, snake heads have been reported in 14 states across the country.
The long, thin fish has a dark brown spotted appearance and can grow up to a meter long. It can also breathe air and survive in systems with low oxygenation, even on land, authorities said.
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A snakehead fish is considered a non-native invasive species, which means that it affects native species by competing for food and habitat. In Georgia, it is illegal to own one without a valid wild animal license.
Fishermen who capture one should kill her immediately and freeze her, authorities said.
"If possible, take pictures of the fish, including the close-ups of its mouth, fins and tail (and) write down where it was caught," state officials said.
The United States Department of Agriculture considers the snakehead fish to be "harmful fauna" and is regulated by the federal government.