Vertebrate fauna of SE Asia
  

 

   
Home  
——————————  
SE Asia fauna ...  
   
Primates
 Carnivorans
 Large Mammals
 Small Mammals
 Mammal calls
 Bats
—————
Birds
—————
 Snakes
 Lizards & Crocodilians
 Turtles
—————
 Amphibians
 Tadpoles
 Frog calls
—————
Freshwater Fishes
 Marine & Brackish Fishes
—————
Species Lists
 





 


 
——————————  
SE Asia Vert Records (SEAVR) ...  
   
Philippines Records
  Indochina Records
  Indonesia & PNG Records
 
——————————  
New Guinea herptiles ...  
Snakes   Lizards   Frogs  
——————————  
   
  New or updated pages ...
 
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
——————————  
 

Search this site ...

 
 


   

 
  ——————————  
 

Links :
My wife, Sophia's website ... super-healthy, vegan delights :
Vegan-Inspired.com

 
  ——————————  
 


Email :


Text and photos by Nick Baker, unless otherwise credited.
Copyright © Ecology Asia 2023

 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

   
   
 
Dwarf Snakehead
   
   

Fig 1


Fig 2


Fig 3


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Order : Perciformes
Family : CHANNIDAE
Species : Channa limbatus
Maximum Length : 20 cm

The Dwarf Snakehead is a bottom-dwelling species which commonly occurs in shallow forest streams, particularly in swamp forest systems. It may also, however, inhabit faster-flowing streams in hilly areas as well as larger, slow-flowing rivers. 

Adults grow to just 20 cm maximum length, and in body form are similar to other snakeheads, being a typical, streamlined torpedo shape.

The origin of the dorsal fin is near the gill openings, and this extends along the entire length of the body. The anal fin is almost as long as dorsal. The fins are attractively marked with thick, orange-red borders, as is the rounded, convex tail fin. The extreme edge of the reddish border may be fringed with a narrow edge of white. The pectoral fins are rounded and possess a series of narrow, dark bars.

Predatory in habit, its diet comprises terrestrial insects and smaller fish prey.

The species occurs in many parts of Asia, including the Indian Subcontinent, Myanmar, parts of China, the Mekong Basin (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia), Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and parts of Indonesia.    


Fig 1 : A 15 cm adult Dwarf Snakehead in swamp forest habitat, Singapore.

Fig 2 : Adult specimen in water just a few centimetres deep.

Fig 3 : This image shows the shape and typical patterning of the pectoral fins.


References : F1