Animalia Life
Channa micropeltes
FAMILY
Channidae
TAXONOMY
Ophicephalus micropeltes Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes,
1831, Java.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Red snakehead; Khmer: Trey chhdaur; Laotian: Pa
do; Malay: Ikan toman: Thai: Pla chado; Vietnamese: Cб bong.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Length 51.2 in (130 cm); one of the largest snakeheads. Has
very small scales (LL=83–106); patch of small scales near
underside tip of lower jaw; large canine-like teeth on upper
and lower jaws. Juveniles have vivid black horizontal stripe
above and below a bright orange to red stripe running head
to tail. Coloration fades into bluish black and white dappled
upper body in adults.
DISTRIBUTION
Widely distributed in Southeast Asia (excluding Myanmar and
northern Vietnam) and coastal region of southwestern India.
HABITAT
Large, slow-running to stagnant waters in open country.
BEHAVIOR
The most aggressive snakehead; has not been reported to
travel over land.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Extremely voracious, consumes fishes of all kinds and sizes,
frogs, and even juvenile ducks and water birds, killing far in excess
of need. Young or subadults tend to school when hunting
for smaller fishes.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Male and female build donut-shaped floating nest from surrounding
aquatic vegetation into which the floating eggs are
placed. Parents aggressively guard and care for eggs and fry.
Once fry hatch, they soon form and forage as a dense school.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Relatively to very common in Southeast Asian range; status of
population in southwestern India is unknown.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
One of the most popularly marketed snakehead fishes in
Southeast Asia. Adults are primarily game fish, juveniles are
recognized worldwide as aquarium fish.
Photo Gallery of - Giant snakehead
