Snakehead
📖 Overview
Obligate air-breathing ; Individuals can stay out of the water for 3 to 4 days at temperatures ranging from 10 to 15°C . They are typical ambush predators that lie waiting for prey on the bottom. They hunt mainly in the morning and in the evening, feeding primarily on fish . They mature at the age of 2 years and length of 30 cm. Spawning takes place in June and July . Eggs are pelagic. Utilized for human consumption.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 49 - 54; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 32 - 38. : elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
The northern snakehead is a freshwater fish and cannot tolerate salinity in excess of 10 parts per million. It is a facultative air breather, using a suprabranchial organ and a bifurcated ventral aorta that permit both aquatic and aeria respiration. This unusual respiratory system allows it to live outside of water for several days. As an amphibious fish, it can wriggle its way between bodies of water or survive being transported by humans. Only young members of this species (not adults) may be able to move overland for short distances using wriggling motions. The preferred habitats of this species are stagnant water with mud substrate and aquatic vegetation, or slow, murky, swampy streams; it is primarily piscivorous, but is known to eat crustaceans, other invertebrates, and amphibians.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Snakehead is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; benthopelagic; non-migratory . Subtropical; 4°C - 22°C ; 54°N - 25°N, 111°E - 141°E
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Snakehead is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Detailed nutritional data for Snakehead is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Snakehead has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Northern Snakehead · Ocellated Snakehead · Snakehead |
| 🌍CES | hadohlavec skvrnitý |
| 🇩🇪German | Argus-Schlangenkopffisch |
| 🌍EST | Tähniline madupea |
| 🇫🇷French | poisson à tête de serpent · Poisson tête de serpent |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Pesce testa di serpente |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Kamuruchi · カムルチー |
| 🇰🇷Korean | 가물치 |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | noordelijke slangekopvis |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Wężogłów |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Cabeza de serpiente |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | nordlig ormhuvudfisk · nordlig ormhuvudsfisk · Pekingormhuvudfisk |
| 🌍THA | ปลาช่อนจีนลายจุด · ปลาช่อนอากัส · ปลาช่อนเหนือ |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 乌鱼 · 乌鳢 · 才鱼 · 火头 · 烏鱧 · 蛇皮鱼 · 财鱼 · 食人鱼 · 黑乌鳢 · 黑鱼 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? argus | Cantor | 1842 | Synonym |
| Channa argus argus | Cantor | 1842 | Synonym |
| Channa argus kimurai | Shih | 1936 | Synonym |
| Channa argus warpachowskii | Berg | 1909 | Synonym |
| Ophicephalus argus | Cantor | 1842 | Synonym |
| Ophicephalus argus warpachowskii | Berg | 1909 | Synonym |
| Ophicephalus pekinensis | Basilewsky | 1855 | Synonym |
| Ophiocephalus argus | Cantor | 1842 | Synonym |
| Ophiocephalus argus warpachowskii | Berg | 1909 | Synonym |
| Ophiocephalus pekinensis | Basilewsky | 1855 | Synonym |
| Ophiocephalus warpachowskii | Berg | 1909 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 133 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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