A species of slow-flowing or sluggish tropical rivers and swamps, the Black Snakehead is best identified in the field by the arrangement of dark patches on the dorsal side, set against a greenish background.

The body shape is typically streamlined, and the dorsal and anal fins are long, extending to the tail fin. Its diet is carnivorous and includes freshwater vertebrates and invertebrates.

The species occurs in the Mekong River Basin of Thailand, and possibly Laos and Cambodia, down through Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore to the Philippines and some Indonesian islands, including Borneo.    

Fig 1 : A 20 cm specimen in a shallow swampy stream, at the foot of Gunung Panti, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia.

Fig 2 : A dark, 25 cm specimen from Bukit Timah, Singapore.

Fig 3 : Specimen in a sandy stream in freshwater swamp forest habitat, Singapore.

Fig 4 : A 25 cm adult lurks in a muddy pool surrounded by its newly hatched fry.

Fig 5 : Specimen amongst detritus in a clear, forest stream, Singapore.

Family : CHANNIDAE
Species : Channa melasoma
Maximum Length : 30 cm

References : F1