Channa harcourtbutleri (Annandale, 1918)
Burmese snakehead
Channa harcourtbutleri
photo by WWF / Vidthayanon, C.

Family:  Channidae (Snakeheads)
Max. size:  25 cm NG (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: Myanmar and India.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 34-38; Anal soft rays: 23-26; Vertebrae: 42-45. Dorsum black to purplish-black, posterior part below lateral lines sometimes with black oblique streaks on dark grey background; ventrum dirty white to grey, with scattered darker grey spots; throat with bluish spots and blotches on dark-grey background, appearing marbled.. Head distinctly flatter and less convex (postorbital depth 30.9-35% HL); head length 33.2-34% SL; head width 16.9-19% SL; pelvic fins 2.3-3% of inter-pelvic fin distance (Ref. 44371).
Biology:  Maximum length recorded is 19.4 cm SL (Ref. 116754).
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 24 February 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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