Channa marulioides

(Bleeker, 1851)

Vernacular names
English : Emperor snakehead, Orange snakehead
French : Tête-de-serpent empereur

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Anabantiformes (sometimes still Perciformes)
Family : Channidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Very large snakehead growing to 65 cm long. Colorful, with bright yellow to orange lower flanks. Upper flanks much darker with a row of oval to oblique black blotches. Some specimens are duller and brown with barely any spots. Short but broad round head, bright red eyes. Dark dorsal fins with clear dots. No tail-spot when reaching adult age.

Range and habitat
The species lives in southeast Asia, in most Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Bangka, Belitung and the central areas of Borneo. It is mostly found in freshwater rivers.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is widely distributed and abundant throughout its range. Although it might face local threats from fisheries or pollution, it is believed that the species isn’t likely to be globally threatened anytime soon.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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