Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anabantiformes (Gouramies, snakeheads) >
Channidae (Snakeheads)
Etymology: Channa: Greek, channe, -es = an anchovy (Ref. 45335); nox: From the dark body color of the fish.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Subtropical
Asia: China.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 19.8 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 43157)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 47 - 51; Anal soft rays: 31 - 33; Vertebrae: 53 - 55. Dorsal surface of the body dark; 8-11 irregular (often anteriorly pointed V-shaped) black blotches or bands on upper half of the body; a white-rimmed black ocellus on caudal peduncle; sparse white spots on body and dorsal and caudal fins. Hyomandibular process with the mid- to lower lateral edge mesially protruded. One to 2 small to medium-sized scales found on the undersurface of each side of the lower jaw. Pelvic fin absent. Cheek scales 9-13 (Ref. 43157).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Obligate air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Generally restricted to relatively narrow regions, characterized by humid rainforest climate (Ref. 43157).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Zhang, C.-G., P. Musikasinthon and K. Watanabe, 2002. Channa nox, a new channid fish lacking a pelvic fin from Guangxi, China. Ichthyol. Res. 49(2):140-146. (Ref. 43157)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
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