Giant snakehead

Giant snakehead
Conservation status
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Channidae
Genus:	Channa
Species:	C. micropeltes
Binomial name
Channa micropeltes (G. Cuvier, 1831)

The giant snakehead or giant mudfish (Channa micropeltes) is the largest species in the family Channidae, capable of growing to over 1 m in length (3.3 ft) and a weight of over 20 kg (44 lb). It is widely distributed in the fresh waters of Southeast Asia and some regions of India. Other names include red snakehead, redline snakehead, and ikan toman (where ikan is "fish" in both Indonesian and Malay). The giant snakehead is known in Thai language as pla chado (Thai: ปลาชะโด).^[2] In the state of Kerala, India - it is called 'Varal'.

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, it loses its stripes and redness, and instead develops a bluish-black and white pattern on its upper body. Juveniles sold in the aquarium fish trade are commonly called "red snakeheads". They can get up to 4 ft long and weigh up to 44 lb. Giant snakeheads are the most aggressive of the 30 species of snakeheads.

Two-cm-long fry: Its color when young explains another of its names, the red snakehead.

After Bleeker, 1878; juvenile. USGS 2004^[1]

Near-adult juveniles

The species has the ability to crawl onto land and breathe air, although they are only able to do this in muddy or swampy areas, hence the nickname "mudfish".

Its ability to breathe air using a primitive lung located just behind the gills allows it to survive in stagnant water where oxygen levels are low, by coming to the surface and taking a small gulp of air. It also enables the snakehead to travel short distances on land, although it is unable to hunt while on land, as it cannot support itself at all with its small fins in comparison to its large body.

Use as food

Pla buang is a northern Thai dish of sun-dried and deep-fried giant snakehead

In Malaysia and Singapore, they are known locally as the toman, while in Indonesia they are called gabus or haruan (not to be confused with another species of smaller snakehead known as the common snakehead also called haruan), and 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.

In Thailand, this fish is prepared in a variety of ways, especially grilled, being a common food item offered by street vendors. In the village/rural parts of Kerala[India], it has the reputation as a good food fish as it eats only live baits.

In various Asian cultures, eating this fish is believed to help in healing of the body, for example, after surgery or severe cuts and scrapes.

In the aquarium

The giant snakehead, normally called red or redline snakeheads, are a popular fish to be sold in the pet trade. They are commonly sold as juveniles as pets. Some are even sold as feeders to be fed to larger carnivorous fish. They are voracious predators that will chase and eat anything that fits in their mouths. Due to this, they are called "freshwater great whites". However, they can successfully be housed with silver arowanas, clown knife fishes, oscars, and other fish from same size group.

Distribution

Distribution of Channa micropeltes, USGS 2004^[1]

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

Ebanasar (1995) has also conducted series of experiments on the biology, physiology and culture of this fish. This fish is reported to be highly suitable for cage culture and culture in ponds in combination with tilapia. It is found to be an effective tool in controlling the overpopulation of tilapia and thus checks the stunted growth of tilapia.

The giant snakehead has been reported already in six of the US states, including Wisconsin, Maryland, and parts of Virginia.

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 2010, a giant snakehead was found dead on the shores of the St. Charles River, in Quebec City (Canada). It was obviously an aquarium release.^[6]

Hoax

In 2008, a specimen of C. micropeltes was reportedly caught by an angler while fishing for pike on the River Witham in Lincolnshire, England. The claim of this catch is highly peculiar, as it was reportedly caught in late winter, and, being a tropical species, it would not have been able to survive, let alone feed in an English river during winter.^[7] 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."^[8] However, it was later determined to be a hoax; the fish had actually been found dead in a street.^[9][10]

References

Further reading

Ebanasar, J. and V. Jayaprakas. 1995a. Cage culture a conservation strategy for an endangered murrel Channa micropeltes. Proceedings of VII Kerala Science Congress, Palakad. pp 104–107
Ebanasar J. and V.Jayaprakas 1995b. Culture of three species of murrels with mossambique tilapia at three predator-prey densities in earthen ponds. J. Aqua . Trop. 10: 221-229.
Ebanasar J. and V.Jayaprakas 1996. Food utilization of Channa micropeltes (Channidae: Pisces) fed three diets of animal origin. Indian J. Exp. Biol. 34:1261–1264.
Ebanasar J. and V. Jayaprakas 2000 Influence of predator size on satiation and gastric evacuation of a predatory fish Channa micropeltes. Indian Journal of Comparative animal Physiology 18 : 44-55
Ebanasar, J. and V. Jayaprakas. 2000. Feeding ecology of Channa micropeltes from Pechipparai reservoir. Recent trends in life sciences, Trivandrum. Abstracts pp 89.
Ebanasar, J., B.D.Sheeja and R.Narayanan 2001. Nutritive value and Bio-chemical composition of selected freshwater fishes. Journal of Social Medicine 55-57.
Ebanasar. J and V. Jayaprakas (2003) Growth and food utilization of Juvenile giant murrel Channa marulius and striped murrel Channa striatus fed with diets of animal origin. Symposium on physiological approaches to conserve biodiversity and to tackle environmental health hazards. Indian Society for comparative animal physiology. Tirupati.
Jayaprakas. V and J.Ebanasar (2003) Enzymes activity in the alimentary canal of malabar snake head Channa micropeltes fed with different diets. Symposium on physiological approaches to conserve biodiversity and to tackle environmental health hazards. Indian Society for comparative animal physiology. Tirupati.
Ebanasar J and V. Jayaprakas (2005) Length weight relationship of the Malabar snakehehead Channa micropeltes from Pechipparai reservoir, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu J. Inland Fish. Soc. India 37(1): 60-63

External links

Wikispecies has information related to: Channa micropeltes

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Channa micropeltes.

• Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2006). "Channa micropeltes" in FishBase. April 2006 version.
• snakeheads.org
• Report of giant snakehead captured in Wisconsin
• Photos of Snakehead Fish
• Fishing in Khao Sok