Borna snakehead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Borna snakehead |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| After Shaw and Shebbeare, 1938 | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Ophiocephalus amphibeus McClelland, 1845 |
The Borna snakehead, also called the Chel snakehead, is a very rare type of fish. Its scientific name is Channa amphibeus. This special fish lives only in the Chel River in northern Bengal, India. This river is part of the larger Brahmaputra river system, near the Bhutan mountains.
About the Borna Snakehead
Like all snakeheads, the Borna snakehead is a fierce hunter. It can grow to be about 25 centimeters (10 inches) long. These fish need warm fresh water to live well, usually between 22 and 28 degrees Celsius (72-82 degrees Fahrenheit).
How They Breathe
One cool thing about snakeheads is that they need to breathe air from above the water. They have a special organ, like a simple lung, called a suprabranchial organ. This helps them get oxygen directly from the air.
During rainy times, young Borna snakeheads can be found in flooded rice fields near forests. Older fish might be found in pools of water in streams that have partly dried up. Even though they can live in water with low oxygen, adult snakeheads must be able to reach the surface to breathe air. If they can't, they might not survive.
Keeping Them as Pets
Because the Chel snakehead is smaller than other snakehead fish, it is a bit easier to keep in home aquariums. However, it's very important to be careful. Some snakehead fish have been let go into new places where they don't naturally live. When this happens, these tough fish can become a serious problem. They can take over and harm the local fish and environment. Luckily, because the Borna snakehead is so rare, this hasn't happened with them yet.
Other Names for This Fish
The Borna snakehead has other names too. One older scientific name is Ophiocephalus amphibeus. In northern Bengal, local people call it bora cheng (in the Mechi language) or borna (in the Rabha language).
