Channa marulius

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Channa marulius
Channa marulia.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anabantiformes
Family: Channidae
Genus: Channa
Species:
C. marulius
Binomial name
Channa marulius
(F. Hamilton, 1822)
Synonyms [2]
  • Ophicephalus maruliusHamilton, 1822
  • Ophicephalus grandinosus Cuvier, 1831
  • Ophiocephalus grandinosusCuvier, 1831
  • Ophicephalus sowaraCuvier, 1831
  • Ophicephalus leucopunctatus Sykes, 1839
  • Ophiocephalus theophrasti Valenciennes, 1840
  • Ophiocephalus aurolineatus Day, 1870

Channa marulius (bullseye snakehead or great snakehead) is a large species of snakehead native to South Asia. [2] Populations in Southeast Asia are now regarded as separate species. [3] [4]

Contents

Taxonomy

Channa aurolineatus(marulius) 2338.jpg

C. marulius—as traditionally defined—is a species complex. A study published in 2017 showed that C. pseudomarulius , formerly regarded as a synonym of C. marulius, is a valid species from the southern Western Ghats. [5] A genetic study published the same year showed that C. marulius consisted of three clearly separated lineages (not counting the already separated C. pseudomarulius). [6] One of these is C. aurolineata , revalidated in 2018 for the populations in drainages in Myanmar, Thailand, and non-natively in the United States [7] (separated from the more western C. marulius by the Indo-Burman Ranges), [3] and the other was described as a new species, C. auroflammea , from the Mekong basin in 2019. [4] In India it is a widespread native fish. In South India, it is commonly found in reservoirs, in Pechipparai, Chittar, Manimuthar, Bhvani, and Mettur dams of Tamil Nadu, and Thenmalai, Neyyar, and Idukki dams of Kerala. It can also be found in the reservoirs of Himachal Pradesh, such as the Pong Dam (Maharana Pratap Sagar), where it is known locally as soal. C. marulius is commonly known as giant murrel. In Assam, it is locally known as xal (Assamese: শাল). In Andhra and Telangana, it is called korrameenu, and is quite common in lakes and reservoirs. In Sindh, the larger one is referred to as Shakur (Sindhi: شاڪُرُ) and the smaller one as Mukur (Sindhi: مُڪُرُ).

[8] C. Marulius are also found in Sri Lankan waterways, It is found in the Northern dry zone and where it also have two other subspecies . Channa ara and Channa cf. Ara . Channa Ara which is known as Kalumaha ( Sinhala : කලුමහ ) has a deep black body with numerous white to gold speckles on the underside. C. Ara is an endemic species to the Mahaweli River basin. It grows up to about 50-65 cm in average. Though specimens with a size around 90-100 cm were recorded in the past. They are threatened mainly due to Overfishing and collection for the ornamental fish trade.

The other subspecies of C. Marulius , Channa cf. Ara , which is found in the Rivers and Tanks of South western wet zone. C. Ara grows to am average length of 55-68 cm in the wild and have a slender body shape unlike its larger subspecies , C. Ara

Culinary

Great snakehead is a fast-growing fish species when compared to most of the others of the genus, and they are also suitable for intensive culture due to their air-breathing habit. They are being sold live and fetch high prices in the market, due to their excellent-tasting flesh and lack of fine bones.

Related Research Articles

<i>Channa</i> Genus of fishes

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.

<i>Parachanna</i> Genus of fishes

Parachanna is a genus of snakeheads native to freshwater habitats in tropical Africa. Three recognized extant (living) species are in this genus, but a phylogenetic study from 2017 indicates that a fourth, currently undescribed species also exists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snakehead (fish)</span> Family of fishes

The snakeheads are members of the freshwater perciform fish family Channidae, native to parts of Africa and Asia. These elongated, predatory fish are distinguished by their long dorsal fins, large mouths, and shiny teeth. They breathe air with gills, which allows them to migrate short distances over land. They have suprabranchial organs, which are primitive forms of labyrinth organs, that develop when they grow older. The two extant genera are Channa in Asia and Parachanna in Africa, consisting of more than 50 species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwarf snakehead</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forest snakehead</span> Species of fish

The forest snakehead is a species of snakehead, a fish of the family Channidae. Its range includes most of Southeast Asia and parts of southern China. It lives in forest streams and can reach 40 cm (16 in) in length. The forest snakehead is known in Thai language as pla krasong. Khmer language called it កញ្ជនជៃ, Indonesians named it kehung, while in Malaysia, they called it ikan bujuk in Malay Language and in Vietnamese its name is cá lóc dày

<i>Channa gachua</i> Species of fish

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.

<i>Channa striata</i> Species of fish

Channa striata, the striped snakehead, is a species of snakehead fish. It is also known as the common snakehead, chevron snakehead, or snakehead murrel and generally referred simply as mudfish. It is native to South and Southeast Asia, and has been introduced to some Pacific Islands. Reports from Madagascar and Hawaii are misidentifications of C. maculata.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Channoidei</span> Suborder of fishes

Channoidei is a suborder of fish in the order Anabantiformes. It contains two families: the true snakeheads (Channidae) and the dragon snakeheads (Aenigmachannidae).

<i>Channa micropeltes</i> Species of fish

Channa micropeltes, giant snakehead, giant mudfish or toman harimau, is among the largest species in the family Channidae, capable of growing to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in length and a weight of 20 kg (44 lb). It is native to the fresh waters of Southeast Asia, but has also been introduced elsewhere and is considered invasive in Taiwan. Other names include xal mas in Assamese, red snakehead, redline snakehead, and ikan toman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ceylon snakehead</span> Species of fish

The Ceylon snakehead is a species of snakehead found in freshwater habitats, typically shaded streams, in southwestern Sri Lanka.

<i>Pethia</i> Genus of fishes

Pethia is a genus of small freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae native to South Asia, East Asia and Mainland Southeast Asia. Some species are commonly seen in the aquarium trade. The name Pethia is derived from the Sinhalese "pethia", a generic word used to describe any of several small species of cyprinid fishes. Most members of this genus were included in Puntius, until it was revised in 2012.

<i>Badis</i> (fish) Genus of fishes

Badis is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Badidae found in South Asia, Southeast Asia and China. These species have a sharp spine on the opercle, soft and spinous parts of the dorsal fin contiguous, three spines in the anal fin, tubed pores in the lateral line, villiform teeth and a rounded caudal fin. In addition, they differ from the related genus Dario by being larger and displaying more involved parental care.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajeev Raghavan</span> Indian conservation biologist

Rajeev Raghavan is a fisheries scientist and aquatic conservation biologist known for his work on the freshwater fishes of the Indian subcontinent. Rajeev is currently an Assistant Professor at the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi, India, the South Asia Chair of the IUCN’s Freshwater Fish Specialist Group., and the IUCN Freshwater Fish Red List Authority Coordinator for Asia and Oceania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anabantiformes</span> Order of fishes

The Anabantiformes, collectively known as Labyrinth fish. are an order of air-breathing freshwater ray-finned fish with two suborders, five families and having at least 207 species. In addition, some authorities expand the order to include the suborder Nandoidei, which includes three families - the Nandidae, Badidae and Pristolepididae - that appear to be closely related to the Anabantiformes. The order, and these three related families, are part of a monophyletic clade which is a sister clade to the Ovalentaria, the other orders in the clade being Synbranchiformes, Carangiformes, Istiophoriformes and Pleuronectiformes. This clade is sometimes referred to as the Carangaria but is left unnamed and unranked in Fishes of the World. This group of fish are found in Asia and Africa, with some species introduced in United States of America.

<i>Channa pulchra</i> Species of fish

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 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.

Aenigmachanna gollum, the Gollum snakehead, is a species of aquifer-dwelling dragon snakehead fish that is endemic to the Indian state of Kerala.

Aenigmachanna is a genus of ray-finned fish in the order Ananbantiformes. It is the only genus in the family Aenigmachannidae, or dragon snakeheads. It contains two species, both of which are largely restricted to subterranean habitats in southwestern India, namely in the Western Ghats foothills in the state of Kerala.

<i>Channa auroflammea</i> Species of fish

Channa auroflammea is a species of snakehead, a fish of the family Channidae. Its range includes Mekong River. It was previously lumped with C. marulius, C. cf. marulius, or C. aff. marulius, but can be distinguished within the group by colour pattern, other morphological characteristics, and genetic information.

<i>Channa aurolineata</i> Species of fish

Channa aurolineata is a species of Asian snakehead in the family Channidae. It is found natively in most of Myanmar's waterways as well as the Mae Khlong drainage in Thailand. There is also an invasive population found in Southeast Florida, United States. This species was recently split from C. marulius, the bullseye snakehead, and confirmed as a separate species in 2018; and the Florida and Thailand populations were not discovered to be C. aurolineata until even more recently in 2019. Before this, the Thailand population's species was unknown and the Florida ones were assumed to be C. marulius. C. aurolineata was able to be separated as a new species and identified in other areas due to slight differences in color pattern, lateral line scale and fin ray morphology, and DNA structure from the other species in the marulius complex.

References

  1. Chaudhry, S. (2010). "Channa marulius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010: e.T172328A6868796. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T172328A6868796.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Channa marulius" in FishBase . January 2006 version.
  3. 1 2 Adamson, E. A. S. and R. Britz (2018). The snakehead fish Channa aurolineata is a valid species (Teleostei: Channidae) distinct from Channa marulius. Zootaxa 4514 (4): 542-552.
  4. 1 2 Adamson, E.A.S., R. Britz and S. Lieng (2019). Channa auroflammea, a new species of snakehead fish of the Marulius group from the Mekong River in Laos and Cambodia (Teleostei: Channidae). Zootaxa 4571(3): 398-408.
  5. Britz, R., E. Adamson, R. Raghavan, A. Ali and N. Dahanukar (2017). Channa pseudomarulius, a valid species of snakehead from the Western Ghats region of peninsular India (Teleostei: Channidae), with comments on Ophicephalus grandinosus, O. theophrasti and O. leucopunctatus. Zootaxa 4299(4): 529-545.
  6. Conte-Grand, C., Britz, R., Dahanukar, N., Raghavan, R., Pethi-yagoda, R., Tan, H.H., Hadiaty, R.K., Yaakob, N.S. & Rüber, L. (2017). Barcoding snakeheads (Teleostei, Channidae) re-visited: Discovering greater species diversity and resolving perpetuated taxonomic confusions. PLoS ONE, 12 (9): e0184017.
  7. Adamson, Eleanor A. S.; Britz, Ralf (July 29, 2019). "The Mae Khlong Basin as the potential origin of Florida's feral bullseye snakehead fish (Pisces: Channidae)" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 67: 403–411 via ZooBank.
  8. "شاڪر مڇي : (Sindhianaسنڌيانا)". www.encyclopediasindhiana.org (in Sindhi). Retrieved 2022-12-19.