Scientific Name
Channa maculata    

by: Fish Lab. RCBA
Nomenclater (Lacepède, 1802) 
Family F487  Channidae
Holotype-Locality no locality 
Habitats Fresh Water  Economic Fish Yes 
Habitats Depth 0 - 10 M  Aquarium Fish No 
Poisonous Fish No  Edible Fish Yes 
Synonyms Bostrychus maculatus, Channa striata, Ophiocephalus maculatus   
Reference Shen, S. C. (ed.) (1993). Fishes of Taiwan. Department of Zoology, National Taiwan University, Taipei. 960 p. Tzeng CS (1996). The freshwater fishes of Taiwan. Taiwan Province Department of Education. Taichung. 183 p. Chen IS and Fang LS (1999). The fres 
Redlist Status Not in IUCN Redlist   
Common Name in Engulish Snakehead 
Chinese Name transliteration li yu, ban li, gu dai, lei yu, nan li 
Distribution in Taiwan North、Middle、South 
Distribution in World Taiwan、India Ocean to Australia、Japan 
Max Lenth  45cm 
Specimen List  ASIZP0061365. ASIZP0070405. ASIZP0801471. ASIZP0801472. ASIZP0801473. ASIZP0801474. ASIZP0801475. FRIP00217. FRIP00765. FRIP20322. NMMBP00130. NMMBP00683. NMMBP01330. NMMBP01969. NMMBP04155. NMMBP04272. NMMBP04520. NMMBP04599. NMMSTP00528. NMNSF00062. NMNSF01632. NTMP0606. NTMP0637. NTMP0773. NTMP1351. NTUM00609. NTUM05262. SU18298. SU18299. USNM00177477. USNM00191126. USNM00191158. USNM00191160. USNM00191163. USNM00191174. USNM00191340. USNM00198944. USNM00200237. ZMH13708.  Download 39 records Download 39 records
Characteristic Head large, slightly compressed and broad. Snout short. Mouth large and protractile. Lower jaw longer than upper, posterior end of upper jaw reaching posterior margin of eye, both upper and lower jaw with teeth. Barbell absent. Body cylindrical, posterior laterally compressed. Scales large and cycloid, lateral line scales interrupted above anal fin origin and continued straightly to the end of caudle peduncle after going downward one or two rows of scale. L.l.：50-65; dorsal fin rays：38-45; anal fin rays：26-29; dorsal and anal fins long, pelvic fin small, anus near anal fin origin, caudal fin round, dorsal fin origin above pectoral fin origin. Brownish or yellowish, ventral surface lighter. Two rows of irregularly dark blotches on side of body. Black stripes on anterior margin of dorsal, anal and caudal fins. 
Habitats Prefer still water or slow-running river with lots of caves and aquatic vegetation to hide, able to breath atmospheric air. Ambush predator, feed on small fish, shrimp and other aquatic creatures. Parents build bubble nests and lay eggs below. The young w 
Distribution Native to southeastern Asia, including southern China, Taiwan, Hainan Island, Vietnam and Philippines. Japanese populations were introduced. In Taiwan, its’ native habitats were restricted western portion of Central Mount Range (CMR). At present, some had 
Utility  
The information about Characteristic, Habitats and Utility was Prepared By Chin-Tsian Tseng, 12/1/2004