| Channa bleheri | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anabantiformes |
| Family: | Channidae |
| Genus: | Channa |
| Species: | C. bleheri |
| Binomial name | |
| Channa bleheri | |
Channa bleheri (the rainbow snakehead) is a species of dwarf snakehead that is endemic to the Brahmaputra River basin in the Indian states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. [3] It is among the most colorful species of snakehead. [4]
In the wild, this species primarily inhabits waters within the Indian state of Assam, and it is known in Assamese as sengeli or chengeli. Its binomial name honors the explorer Heiko Bleher. [5] The specific name of this fish honours the explorer and exotic fish trader Heiko Bleher who assisted in the collection of the type and gave it to Vierke. [6]
Endemic to the Brahmaputra River basin, this fish has a type location at Dibrugarh, a city in the northeastern part of Assam. [4] Its closest relative appears to be Channa burmanica , which is endemic to northern Burma. [4]
This species is one of the favorite snakeheads for aquariums because of the colors that inspired its common name. Juveniles that have reached one centimetre (0.4 in) have yellow bodies, and adults have large orange or red spots. [4]
This fish grows to 17 cm (6.7 in) in standard length and is a part of the group known informally as dwarf snakeheads. [3]
Among dwarf snakeheads, it is the only nestbrooder; all others are mouthbrooders. Females, which are smaller than males, appear to initiate courtship, although the male selects the nesting site, and both parents will guard the larvae. [4]
The adult male and female move near the surface for sex. [4] These fish are benthopelagic, meaning that they mostly dwell near the bottom of bodies of water. [7]
The federal government in the U.S. is concerned that release of this fish into U.S. waters could harm the environment. This predator could kill native species, especially in southern areas such as Florida, Texas, and Hawaii that have a warm climate similar to Assam's climate. [4]
Accordingly, it is illegal in the United States to possess, import, or sell these fish or their eggs. [8] [9] Violations of this law have occurred in various states (e.g. Kentucky and Georgia). [4]
Channa is a genus of predatory fish in the family Channidae, commonly known as snakeheads, native to freshwater habitats in Asia. This genus contains about 50 scientifically described species. The genus has a wide natural distribution extending from Iraq in the west, to Indonesia and China in the east, and parts of Siberia in the Far East. A particularly high richness of species exists in Myanmar (Burma) and northeastern India, and many Channa species live nowhere else. In contrast, a few widespread species have been introduced to several regions outside their natural range, where they often become invasive. The large and medium-sized Channa species are among the most common staple food fish in several Asian countries, and they are extensively cultured. Apart from their importance as a food fish, snakeheads are consumed in some regions as a traditional medicine for wound healing and reducing postoperative pain and discomfort, and collected for the international aquarium pet trade.
The Barca snakehead is a rare species of snakehead. It is endemic to the upper Brahmaputra river basin in northeastern India and Bangladesh. Records from Nepal are of doubtful validity. Overall it has been assessed as data deficient by the IUCN, and in 2014 it was assessed as critically endangered in Bangladesh by the IUCN. In Assam, it is locally known as cheng garaka or garaka cheng.
Dwarf snakehead is a term coined by aquarists to describe a group of Channa snakehead fishes growing to about 25 cm (10 in) maximum. They are found in freshwater habitats in South and Southeast Asia, and southern China.
Channa gachua, the dwarf snakehead, is a species of fish in the family Channidae. The name "dwarf snakehead" is also used for several other species of small snakeheads. C. gachua is native to freshwater habitats in southern Asia, where it has a wide distribution from Iran to Indonesia. This fish is considered to be a species complex, a group of several closely related taxa with one name. It is likely at least three to four different species, and further research may differentiate them. A few species such as Channa harcourtbutleri have been separated from the complex in recent decades. The easternmost population of C. gachua is often recognized as a separate species C. limbata, while the isolated Sri Lankan population often is recognized as C. kelaartii.
The orange-spotted snakehead is a species of snakehead fish. Its body is of brownish colour intermixed with vertical orange stripes. Males have taller dorsal fins with more intense coloration, and narrower heads. It is endemic to Brahmaputra River basin. Its type locality is Dibrugarh, the most northeastern area of Assam, India. Dibrughar is the same type locality as that of Channa bleheri.
Betta chini is a species of gourami endemic to the island Borneo where it is only known from the Malaysian state of Sabah. It inhabits very shallow waters of peat swamps. Males of this species can reach a length of 5.1 centimetres (2.0 in) SL while females can reach a length of 5.6 centimetres (2.2 in).
Julidochromis marlieri is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it is only known from the northwestern portion preferring rocky shorelines in deep waters. In the aquarium trade, it is commonly known as Marlier's Julie, Spotted Julie or Chequered Julie. This species reaches a length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) TL. Adult females are larger than adult males.
The ember tetra is a freshwater fish of the characin family of order Characiformes. It is native to the Araguaia River basin of Brazil and was discovered in 1987 and named in honor of the fish explorer Heiko Bleher's mother.
Channa marulius is a large species of snakehead native to South Asia. Populations in Southeast Asia are now regarded as separate species.
Betta enisae is a species of gourami endemic to the Kapuas River basin of Indonesia. It is an inhabitant of forest streams with slightly acidic waters, and can mostly be found in the shallows amongst the leaf litter. This species grows to a length of 5.9 cm (2.3 in). It is commonly used as bait by local fishermen and has been found in the aquarium trade. The specific name of this fish honours Enis Widjanarti who assisted Kottelat in his expedition to the Kapuas Lakes.
Channa pleurophthalma, the ocellated snakehead is a species of Southeast Asian freshwater fish in the snakehead family.
Heiko Bleher is a German researcher, author, photographer, and filmmaker. He is best known in the scientific community for his contribution to the exploration of fresh and brackish water habitats worldwide. He has discovered numerous species of fish and aquatic plant, several of which carry his name or are named in honor of Bleher's family.
Channa stewartii is a species of dwarf snakehead in the family Channidae, which is native to Nepal and the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura. It may also be found in Bangladesh. This freshwater fish mostly inhabits hill streams, but can also be found in ponds. It is of little value as a food fish but common in the aquarium trade.
Channa pulchra is a species of snakehead fish in the family Channidae which is native to Myanmar. It was first described in 2007 by R. Britz from a specimen collected from the Kyeintali Chaung (stream) basin in Rakhine Yoma, western Myanmar. The fish is found in streams that are fast flowing, clear, highly oxygenated and relatively cold (subtropical). It is of little food value but getting popularity as an aquarium fish recently.
Channa pardalis is a species of dwarf snakehead in the genus Channa. It was first described in 2016 from Khasi Hills, Meghalaya of northeastern India. Prior to its scientific description, it was known as Channa sp. "True Blue" or Channa sp. "Meghalaya" in the aquarium trade, although some claim that "Meghalaya" is another, still undescribed species. C. pardalis is closely related to C. bipuli and C. stewartii.
Channa royi, the Andaman emerald snakehead, is a species of snakehead fish endemic to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India. This dwarf snakehead is distinct from other snakehead species due to its differing coloration, number of vertebrae, and teeth, most notably its greenish-gray dorsum. It was only scientifically described in 2018 and its closest relative is the Burmese snakehead, and a review in 2019 argued that the two are synonyms.
Kiunga bleheri is a species of blue-eyes from the subfamily Pseudomugilinae, part of the rainbowfish family Melanotaeniidae which is endemic to Papua New Guinea. It was described by Gerald R. Allen in 2004 from a type locality of Tare Creek at 11.5 kilometres (7.1 mi) from the central market of Kiunga on the Konkonda Road. and Allen coined the specific name in honour of the collector of the type, the tropical fish wholesaler Heiko Bleher.
Leporinus bleheri is a species of Leporinus widely found in the Iténez-Guaporé River basin in South America. This species can reach a length of 14.2 centimetres (5.6 in) SL.
Steatocranus bleheri is species of cichlid only found in the Kafubu River system, which is part of the Luapula drainage in the upper Congo River basin, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa. This species can reach a length of 6.8 centimetres (2.7 in) TL.
Phenacogrammus bleheri is a species of fish in the African tetra family. It is known only from a small tributary of the Bari River in the Lua River system in the Ubangi River drainage, in the middle Congo River basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This species reaches a length of 6.3 cm (2.5 in).
