Spotted snakehead
📖 Overview
Obligate air-breathing ; Found in ponds, swamps, brackish water , ditches and beels . Adults prefer stagnant waters in muddy streams . Feed on worms, insects and small fish . Accept chopped fish and shrimp in the aquarium. Breed throughout the year. Mitochondrial hypertrophy, noted in the double cone of the retina of this species, is considered a basic process in oil droplet formation believed to be an adaptation for enhanced visual contrast detection in turbid waters . Used as live bait for angling larger snakeheads.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Spotted snakehead is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Spawning usually takes place at night in shallow water with a silty substrate. Eggs are laid in nests through elaborate tunnels in vegetated areas which look like vertical columns of water with the eggs floating in the center . The male and female move towards the center of the nest during spawning where the male entwines his body to the female moving upward while releasing the eggs to be fertilised . Eggs are guarded by one or both parents. Hatching takes place in a day .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; potamodromous . Tropical; 22°C - 28°C
🌿 Ecology
worms, insects and small fish (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Spotted 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
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 17.5 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 138 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Spotted snakehead has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | green snakehead · Spotted Snakehead · Taki |
| 🇫🇷French | Tête de serpent tachetée |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Cabeza de serpiente moteada |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ophicephalus indicus | McClelland | 1842 | Synonym |
| Ophicephalus karruwey | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Ophicephalus punctatus | Bloch | 1793 | Synonym |
| Ophiocephalus affinis | Günther | 1861 | Synonym |
| Ophiocephalus indicus | McClelland | 1842 | Synonym |
| Ophiocephalus karrouveri | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Ophiocephalus lata | Hamilton | 1822 | Synonym |
| Ophiocephalus punctatus | Bloch | 1793 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 22 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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