The natural range of the species is NE China, North Korea and the Far East of Russia. The species was introduced to Latvia in the 1970s, nowadays it is recognized as invasive. Amur sleeper is found mainly in ponds, lakes, distributaries of rivers and slow-flowing rivers. It is able to survive in water bodies with low oxygen content, as well as in water bodies that completely dry in summer and freeze to the bottom during the winter. Amur sleeper is a predatory fish species, its feed includes arthropods, insects at various stages of development, molluscs, fish and amphibian larvae. The reproduction of amur sleeper causes significant changes in the biodiversity of water bodies, it competes with native fish species for food and habitats.