Channa argus

(Cantor, 1842)

Vernacular names
English : Snakehead
French : Tête-de-serpent commun

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Anabantiformes (sometimes still Perciformes)
Family : Channidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Flattened head, large mouth with thick lips. Broad brown temporal bands, smaller bands from eye to mouth. Coloration beige with brown blotches forming oblique bands on rear flanks.

Range and habitat
Eastern Asia, from Amur river to Hainan island and Xi Jiang in China. Found in swamps, rivers with deep slowly flowing water.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species seems to be common, widespread and not facing any threats at this time. Bred in farms around Asia, introduced in many places around the world, often causing damages.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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