Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anabantiformes (Gouramies, snakeheads) >
Channidae (Snakeheads)
Etymology: Channa: Greek, channe, -es = an anchovy (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Cuvier.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 100 - ? m (Ref. 27732). Tropical; 25°C - 28°C (Ref. 1672); 10°N - 1°N, 95°E - 141°E
Asia: Mekong and Chao Phraya basins; the Malay Peninsula, and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Material from India usually referred to as this species actually represents a distinct species.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 130 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30857); common length : 50.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 57235); max. published weight: 20.0 kg (Ref. 4835)
A broad, dark longitudinal stripe in adults; two black longitudinal stripes with a bright orange intermediate area in juveniles (Ref. 27732).
Obligate air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Occurs in lowland river and swamp (Ref. 57235). Usually associated with deep water bodies (Ref. 27732). Found in large streams and canals (Ref. 4833), with standing or slowly flowing water (Ref. 12693). Feeds mainly on fish but also takes some crustaceans. Spawns in small streams with dense vegetation (Ref. 56749). Utilized as a food fish (Ref. 4931). Economic important mainly from capture fisheries (Ref. 57235).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Roberts, T.R., 1989. The freshwater fishes of Western Borneo (Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia). Mem. Calif. Acad. Sci. 14:210 p. (Ref. 2091)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00741 (0.00435 - 0.01263), b=2.98 (2.84 - 3.12), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.9 ±0.55 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming tmax>10).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 36.3 [17.7, 86.6] mg/100g; Iron = 0.677 [0.436, 1.136] mg/100g; Protein = 18 [17, 19] %; Omega3 = 0.191 [0.075, 0.482] g/100g; Selenium = 51.1 [19.0, 130.0] μg/100g; VitaminA = 51 [18, 141] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.01 [0.69, 1.57] mg/100g (wet weight); based on
nutrient studies.