Scientific Name
Channa marulius

Common Name
Great snakehead

Biology
Occurs in sluggish or standing water in canals, lakes, and swamps (Ref. 12693). Inhabits waters with submerged aquatic vegetation (Ref. 12693). Usually found only in deep pools in rivers and occasionally in lakes. Enters flooded forest (Ref. 9497). Carnivorous and subsists on fish, frogs, snakes, insects, earthworms and tadpoles (Ref. 1479). There are reports of this species taking water birds, snakes, and rodents. Males are territorial. May bite when caught (Elliot Bligh, pers. comm., 2001).

Classification

Classified By

Hamilton, 1822

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Snakeheads (Channidae)

Distribution

Region

Asia

Distribution

Asia: India to China, south to Thailand and Cambodia (Ref. 12693) and Pakistan (Ref. 4833).

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

24 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243)

Trophic Level

4.5 s.e. 0.80 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

183 cm

Common Length

46.0 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; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (55 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.23)

Threat To Humans

Traumatogenic

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)