Fish facts #1 - Jeremy Wade feat. Giant Snakehead [Video]

This fish has bad fame especially in USA. There was even low budget movie about it (Snakehead Terror, 2004). Anyhow Giant Snakehead can make some serious injuries with its strong jaws and teeth if you are not careful around its habitat or when you are fishing without adequate safety.

Before you will see the video a short information about this fish.

The giant snakehead or giant mudfish (Latin: Channa micropeltes, Cuvier, 1831).

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)

Family: Channidae (Snakeheads)

Genus: Channa

Species: C. micropeltes

Distribution

Asia: Mekong and Chao Phraya basins; the Malay Peninsula, and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Material from India usually referred to as this species actually represents a distinct species. As the result of human introductions, the giant snakehead has been reported already in six US states, including Wisconsin, Maryland, and parts of Virginia.

Size / Weight

Max length : 130 cm;

common length : 50.0 cm;

max. published weight: 20.0 kg;

Environment

Freshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromous;

depth range:0 - 100 m?;

Tropical; ~~25°C - 28°C;

10°N - 1°N, 95°E - 141°E

Short description

A broad, dark longitudinal stripe in adults; two black longitudinal stripes with a bright orange intermediate area in juveniles.

Biology

Occurs in lowland river and swamp. Usually associated with deep water bodies. Found in large streams and canals, with standing or slowly flowing water. Feeds mainly on fish but also takes some crustaceans. Spawns in small streams with dense vegetation. Utilized as a food fish. Economic important mainly from capture fisheries.

Supporting source: http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?ID=344&AT=giant+snakehead

Video