Hong Kong Biodiversity Database

Hong Kong Biodiversity Database

General Information

Channa asiatica Small snakehead
Animal Group:	Freshwater Fish
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Channidae
Description:	It is a freshwater snakehead with an elongated body. Similar to other Channa species, the fish has very long dorsal and anal fins. One of the distinguishing features is the possession of two dark brown blotches just above the pectoral fin and on caudal fin base. It has 7 to 10 vertical vague greyish bars across body and golden dots adorn the head and flanks.

Conservation Status

AFCD Assessment

Uncommon

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Status

Least Concern

Fellowes et al. (2002)

Local Concern

Distribution

Distribution in Hong Kong Uncommon in the wild. Records from a few streams in North district and on Lantau Island. The fish is also cultivated in some fish farms and are available from fish market. Global Distribution China, Japan and Sri Lanka.

Photo Gallery

References

More on Freshwater Fish in HK

Chen I.S. and Fang L.S. (1999). The Freshwater and Estuarine Fishes of Taiwan (in Chinese). National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium, Pingtung.

Lam, K. S. (2002). Freshwater Fish in Hong Kong. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Friends of the Country Parks and Cosmos Books Ltd., Hong Kong.

Lee, V. L. F., Lam, S. K. S., Ng, F. K. Y., Chan, T. K. T. and Young, M. L. C. (2004). Field Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Hong Kong.Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Friends of the Country Parks and Cosmos Books Ltd., Hong Kong

Man, S.H. and Hodgkiss, I.J. (1981). Hong Kong Freshwater Fishes. The Urban Council, Hong Kong.