Pikehead
📖 Overview
Facultative air-breathing ; Occurs in streams and flooded forest among dense vegetation . Found in primary peats swamps. Mouth brooder . Highly protrusible jaws. The premaxillae can extend about 1/3 of the head length. Prey is captured by the fish making a rapid lunge and surrounding the prey with the open mouth.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Anal spines: 0 - 1; Anal soft rays: 19 - 21; Vertebrae: 38 - 40. Distinguished from Luciocephalus aura in the following characters: absence of numerous iridescent green spots on central stripe when live (vs. presence); presence of black irregular pattern on area below preorbital to central stripe (vs. absence); area just above anal-fin base with 3-4 dark brown blotches, which appear circular when body is viewed ventrally (vs. absence of such markings); yellowish caudal fin with 3-5 broad vertical black bars (vs. brownish caudal fin with 3-7 narrow iridescent vertical gold bars); presence of markings on anal and pelvic (vs. absence); shorter caudal-fin length (total length 120.0-125.6% SL vs. 123.7-127.1); shorter postdorsal length (10.4-12.4% SL vs. 12.0-13.2); greater head length (44.1-48.6% SL vs. 43.3-45.9); smaller caudal peduncle depth (8.9-10.6% SL vs 10.7-11.2); and relatively shorter anal-fin base length (19.3-23.4% SL vs. 23.6-24.5) .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Pikehead is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Pikehead is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Males are mouthbrooding for about 30 days.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 7.5; dH range: ? - 15. Tropical; 22°C - 26°C
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Pikehead 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 Pikehead is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Pikehead has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Crocodile Pikehead · Crocodile Pikehead Gourami · Pikehead |
| 🌍CES | štikohlavec půvabný |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Geddehoved |
| 🇩🇪German | Hechtkopf |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Szczupakogłów |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Gourami-crocodilo-do-norte |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Красивый щукоголов |
| 🌍THA | ปลาช่อนเข็ม |
| 🌍UKR | Щукоголов звичайний |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 美麗梭頭鱸 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diplopterus pulcher | Gray | 1830 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 9 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Pikehead ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.