Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Anabantiformes (Gouramies, snakeheads) > Channidae (Snakeheads)
Etymology: Channa: Greek, channe, -es = an anchovy (Ref. 45335).
More on authors: Bloch & Schneider.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 5 - 19; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Tropical; 23°C - 26°C (Ref. 1672)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Asia: Afghanistan and Baluchistan southward to Sri Lanka and eastward to Indonesia.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 33.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 41236); common length : 16.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 41236)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal soft rays (total): 33 - 36; Anal soft rays: 21 - 23. Caudal fin roundly pointed.

Obligate air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Are broadly adapted species occurring in rivers, lakes, ponds, mountain streams and even brackish water (Ref. 12693). Usually hide under the cover of marginal roots and bogwood. Found in quiet, shaded, clear, flowing water with a silt or gravel substrate (Ref. 6028). Can tolerate very stagnant, poorly oxygenated and turbid water. They also tolerate very foul water (Ref. 1479). Feed largely on insects and crustaceans. A small percentage of fish is also included in the diet. Spawn in shallow water with a silt or gravel substrate. Can tolerate a temperature of 36.5°C.

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Exhibits mouthbrooding. Eggs hatch in the mouth of the male and either parent may keep the brood in its mouth for protection after hatching. Fry have been found to feed on successive batches of eggs laid by the female.

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Talwar, P.K. and A.G. Jhingran, 1991. Inland fishes of India and adjacent countries. Volume 2. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, i-xxii + 543-1158, 1 pl. (Ref. 4833)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)

Vulnerable (VU) (B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)); Date assessed: 06 August 2019

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial

FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

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Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00933 (0.00568 - 0.01533), b=3.03 (2.89 - 3.17), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 3.8 ±0.59 se; based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec = 933).

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Low vulnerability (23 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.

Nutrients (Ref. 124155): Calcium = 112 [59, 246] mg/100g; Iron = 0.785 [0.520, 1.153] mg/100g; Protein = 17.6 [16.7, 18.6] %; Omega3 = 0.139 [0.071, 0.272] g/100g; Selenium = 25.7 [11.0, 60.9] μg/100g; VitaminA = 49.8 [21.1, 112.2] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.23 [0.86, 1.86] mg/100g (wet weight);

Channa orientalis Bloch & Schneider, 1801