Channa punctata, the spotted snakehead, is a species of snakehead. It is found in the Indian Subcontinent and nearby areas, ranging across Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Tibet.[2] Its natural habitats are swamps, ponds and brackish water systems.[2] It is a fish of high food value and has little value as aquarium fish.
Description
Channa punctatus normally grows to around 15.0 cm (5.9 in) in length, but males up to 31.0 cm (12.2 in) have also been captured.[2] The spotted snakehead is listed as Least Concern in IUCN, due to lack of major threats to this species populations.[1]
The species is mainly a carnivore. Favorite food of this species is other small fishes yolk flies and fish larvae. In its natural habitat, it consumes crustaceans, molluscs, insects, small fishes, semi-digested materials and sometimes plants. Its feeding habit changes seasonally. The intensity of feeding is low in mature fishes during the spawning period. Juvenile fish has constant habit of food.[3]
References
- ^ a b Chaudhry, S.; de Alwis Goonatilake, S.; Fernado, M.; Kotagama, O. (2019). "Channa punctata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T166437A60584432. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T166437A60584432.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2014). Channa punctata in FishBase. February 2014 version.
- ^ AS Bhuiyan, S Afroz, T Zaman (2006). "Bhuiyan, A.S., Afroz, S. and Zaman, T., 2006. Food and feeding habit of the juvenile and adult snake head, Channa punctatus (Bloch)". J. Life Earth Sci. 1 (2): 53–54.
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External links
- "Channa punctata". fl.biology.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2015-02-05.
- "Spotted snakehead - Channa punctata". aquaticcommunity.com. Retrieved 2015-02-05.
- "Biodiversity of Sri Lanka: Freshwater Fish diversity of Sri Lanka". biodiversityofsrilanka.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2015-02-05.
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