A 35cm specimen in an open country
stream, Singapore.
A 30cm specimen in shallow water at the edge of Singapore's Macritchie
Reservoir.
Family : CHANNIDAE
Species : Channa striata
Maximum Length : 90 cm
References : F1 |
The Common Snakehead or
Aruan is the most easily encountered of all Channa species. It is considered
good eating and has medicinal value as a soup tonic; it is easily found in
many Southeast Asian markets.
The species inhabits a
variety of waterways including ponds, lakes, streams and drains. The dorsal
side is brown in colour, the flanks have faint, slightly oblique bands, and
the belly is white. Juveniles are more orange in colour. As with the
Giant Snakehead Channa micropeltes,
the juvenile fish are raised in a well protected underwater nest.
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Juvenile, showing the
distinctive oblique stripes.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore. |
The species ranges
throughout the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia and has been
introduced into many waterways. |
