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

 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

   
   
 
Giant Snakehead or Toman (introduced)
   
   

Fig 1


Fig 2


Fig 3


 

 

 

 

 

 

Order : Perciformes
Family : CHANNIDAE
Species : Channa micropeltes
Maximum Length : 100 cm

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. Fully grown specimens can cause severe injury to those who might inadvertently step near the nest, or threaten their young. 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.


Fig 1 : Adult specimen, measuring an estimated 80 cm from tip to tail, at Macritchie, Singapore.

Fig 2 : This species often comes to surface for a breath of air.

Fig 3 : An adult pair of Giant Snakehead keep a close eye on their brood of brightly coloured young, at Macritchie, Singapore.


References : F1