Scientific Name
Channa punctata

Common Name
Spotted snakehead

Biology
Found in ponds, swamps, brackish water (Ref. 6028), ditches and beels (Ref. 1479). Prefers stagnant waters in muddy streams (Ref. 4833). Feeds on worms, insects and small fish (Ref. 6028). Accepts chopped fish and shrimp in the aquarium. Breeds throughout the year. Mitochondrial hypertrophy, noted in the double cone of the retina of this species, is considered a basic process in oil droplet formation (Ref. 10557) believed to be an adaptation for enhanced visual contrast detection in turbid waters (Ref. 10407). Used as live bait for angling larger snakeheads.

Classification

Classified By

Bloch, 1793

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Snakeheads (Channidae)

Distribution

Region

Asia

Distribution

Asia: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Yunnan in China.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

22 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243)

Trophic Level

3.84 s.e. 0.70 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

31.0 cm

Common Length

15.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial; bait: occasionally

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (18 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.2; Fec=2,300)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)