Giant snakehead

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Giant snakehead

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Channidae
Genus: Channa
Species: C. micropeltes
Binomial name
Channa micropeltes
(Cuvier, 1831)

The giant snakehead, Channa micropeltes, is the largest in the family Channidae, capable of growing over 7 feet (2.0 meters). It is widely distributed in the freshwater of South East Asia and some regions of India. Other names include red snakehead, redline snakehead, Malabar snakehead, and Ikan toman (where ikan is Indonesian for fish).

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[edit] Biology

The young of the giant snakehead are red in color, with orange and black lateral stripes appearing after about two months. As the giant snakehead matures, they lose their stripes and instead develop a bluish black and white pattern on their upper body. Juveniles sold in the aquarium fish trade are commonly called red or redline snakeheads.

After Bleeker, 1878; juvenile. USGS 2004
After Bleeker, 1878; juvenile. USGS 2004[1]
2cm long fry. Its color when young explains another of its names, the red snakehead.
2cm long fry. Its color when young explains another of its names, the red snakehead.

Being a high level predator means that the giant snakehead eats many other fish, amphibians and even small birds, but is not preyed upon by many other species. The giant snakehead is considered gregarious, with the young often following their mother closely. There have been reports of protective mother giant snakehead attacking men who have disturbed the snakehead's school of juveniles.

The species has the ability to crawl onto land, where it can survive for up to four days. [2]

[edit] Use as food fish

In Singapore, where the giant snakehead is known as the toman, they are cultured in fish ponds and reservoirs as game fish because they put up a strong fight when hooked. The giant snakehead is also a good food fish, and is often served in Chinese restaurants. Some people, however, dislike the muddy taste associated with freshwater fish.

[edit] Distribution

Distribution of Channa striata. Source: USGS 2004
Distribution of Channa striata. Source: USGS 2004[1]

The giant snakehead is found in Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, India, and possibly Myanmar. It has an oddly disjunctive distribution, inhabiting both southeast Asia and southwest India, about 2500 km apart. It is theorized that the Indian population may be from an early human introduction, prior to the 19th century. In India it is found in southern Tamilnadu and Kerala especially in Pechipparai, Chittar I & II, Neyyar and Temnalai Reservoirs. Ebanasar (1995) reported its distribution and Biology from these reservoirs.[3][4]

[edit] Channa micropeltes as an invasive species

In 2002 and 2003, three specimens were caught in Maryland, USA all believed to have been released pets. In 2003, a giant snakehead was caught in Rock River, Wisconsin. [5] Biologists were concerned that warmwater effluents could allow the tropical species to survive in the colder climate.

In 2008, a specimen of C. micropeltes was caught by an angler while fishing for pike on the River Witham in Lincolnshire, England [6]. It is not clear if the species is breeding in the wild, or if this was an escaped captive specimen; a source within the Environment Agency was quoted as saying “The reaction was, 'Oh s***'. This is the ultimate invasive species — if it starts breeding here it's a disaster."[7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Courtenay, Jr., Walter R. and James D. Williams. Chiana Micropeltes USGS Circular 1251: Snakeheads (Pisces, Chinnidae) - A Biological Synopsis and Risk Assessment. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. 2004-04-01. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  2. ^ Dangerous invasive fish caught in England United Press International Feb. 19, 2008
  3. ^ Ebanasar, J. 1995. "Studies on some aspects of the Culture of murrels Channa micropeltes, Channa marulius and Channa striatus." PhD Thesis University of Kerala.
  4. ^ Ebanasar, J. and V. Jayaprakas. 1995. "Cage culture a conservation strategy for an endangered murrel Channa micropeltes." Proceedings of Seventh Kerala Science Congress.
  5. ^ Giant snakehead found in Wisconsin waters (News item). U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Non-indigenous Aquatic Species program. 2003-09-19. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
  6. ^ “Attack of the killer fish?”, New Scientist, 2008-02-19, <http://www.newscientist.com/blog/shortsharpscience/2008/02/attack-of-killer-fish.html>. Retrieved on 20 February 2008 
  7. ^ Giant snakehead fish reportedly found in Britain | Dangerous savage fish can kill humans | The Sun |HomePage|News

The giant Snakehead is a tropical Species and incapable of surviving the UK climate. It appears that this unfortunate fish was disposed of by a unknowing and irresponsible fish keeper. precautions have been taken towards the only species of Snakehead that could survive the UK Climate, Channa Argus warchowsky, has been place under licence by Defra More information on Species under licence in the Uk please check http://www.defra.gov.uk/

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