Striped snakehead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Striped snakehead |
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| Channa striata, after Bleeker, 1879 | |
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| Distribution of Channa striata.
Madagascar reports are misidentifications of C. maculata |
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| Synonyms | |
The striped snakehead (Channa striata) is a type of fish also known as the common snakehead or mudfish. It lives naturally in South Asia and Southeast Asia. This fish has also been brought to some Pacific Islands. However, some reports of it in Madagascar and Hawaii were actually about a different fish called the Blotched snakehead (C. maculata).
Scientists found in 2017 that the striped snakehead might actually be a group of very similar species, not just one.
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About the Striped Snakehead
The striped snakehead is a bony fish that can grow up to one meter (about 3 feet) long. However, because of fishing, it's rare to find them that big in the wild.
Where They Live
These fish are found across a wide area. This includes southern China, Pakistan, most of India, southern Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and most of Southeast Asia. More recently, they have been introduced to parts of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Mauritius.
For a long time, people thought these fish were introduced to Hawaii and Madagascar. But it turns out those were actually Blotched snakeheads. The only place in Hawaii where C. striata is confirmed to live is on a commercial fish farm.
Appearance and Life Cycle
Adult striped snakeheads are dark brown. They have faint black stripes across their bodies. Both male and female fish work together to build a nest using water plants when it's time to breed. They also both guard their eggs.
When the baby fish, called fry, hatch, they are reddish-orange. Their parents protect them until they grow to about 5–6 centimeters (2 inches) and turn greenish-brown.
Habitat and Diet
Striped snakeheads are common in freshwater plains. They move from rivers and lakes into flooded fields when the water rises. During the dry season, they go back to permanent water bodies. They can survive by digging into the mud.
These fish eat frogs, water bugs, and smaller fish. When they are breeding, they will attack anything that moves.
Names Around the World
The common snakehead has many different names depending on the country and language. For example, it's called ngayan in Burmese and shol in Bengali. In India, it has names like varaal in Malayalam and viral in Tamil.
In Thailand, it's known as pla chon, and in Indonesia, it's called gabus. People in the Philippines call it haloan or mudfish.
Striped Snakehead in Cooking
The striped snakehead is a very important food fish in the places where it lives. People cook it in many different ways.
Dishes in Asia
In Kerala, India, a special curry is made with this fish and tapioca. In Indonesia, salted snakehead fish is a popular dish. In the Philippines, people often fry, grill, or poach the fish. They also cook it in soups, often with rice water.
This fish is very popular with Bengalis in West Bengal and Bangladesh. It's also a favorite food in other parts of India, like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. It's even the official state fish of Telangana, where it's eaten a lot.
In Thai cuisine, striped snakeheads are prepared in many ways. Grilled fish is a common food sold by street vendors. Pla ra, a fermented fish sauce from northeastern Thailand, is made by pickling this fish. Sometimes, a Chinese sausage is made with snakehead meat in Thailand.
In Burmese cuisine, dried and salted striped snakehead is popular. This dried fish can be grilled or cooked in a curry. There's also a special curry in Lower Myanmar that uses only the intestines of the striped snakehead.
Some traditional beliefs in China say that all snakehead fish can help with wound healing, especially when made into soup. This makes them a popular food in many parts of Asia.
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