This huge adult, reaching almost a metre in length, inhabits a
small pond at the margin of Singapore's forests.
An adult pair of Toman keep a close eye on
their brood of brightly coloured young, at MacRitchie
Reservoir, Singapore.
Family : CHANNIDAE
Species : Channa micropeltes
Maximum Length : 100 cm
References : F1
Links :
News article :
Frankenfish
News article :
Ridding Frankenfish ‘could prove difficult’
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A fearsome fighter, the
Giant Snakehead is regarded in Southeast Asia as a sport fish, which also
happens to be good eating. The huge powerful jaws are lined with sharp
teeth.
The species easily adapts
to any freshwater habitat, including ponds, lakes, reservoirs, swamps,
streams and drains. Eggs are laid in a sunken nest of vegetation near the
shore, and the young are fiercely guarded by the parents. Full grown
specimens can cause severe injury to humans who might inadvertently step
near the nest. Juveniles are striped brown and black, and travel in large
shoals.
This is the largest of all
Channa species. It occurs throughout Southeast Asia and has been introduced
to some areas, such as Singapore. Recently, introduced Giant Snakeheads have
been disrupting the ecology of some U.S. lakes (see links).
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