The orange-spotted snakehead (''Channa aurantimaculata'') is a species of
snakehead fish. Its body is of brownish colour intermixed with vertical orange stripes. Males have taller dorsal fins with more intense coloration, and narrower heads. It is endemic to
Brahmaputra River
The Brahmaputra is a trans-boundary river which flows through Southwestern China, Northeastern India, and Bangladesh. It is known as Brahmaputra or Luit in Assamese language, Assamese, Yarlung Tsangpo in Lhasa Tibetan, Tibetan, the Siang/Dihan ...
basin. Its type locality is
Dibrugarh
Dibrugarh () is a city in the Indian state of Assam, located 435 kms east of the state capital Dispur. It serves as the headquarters of the Dibrugarh district in Upper Assam. Dibrugarh also serves as the headquarters of the Sonowal Kach ...
, the most northeastern area of
Assam
Assam (, , ) is a state in Northeast India, northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra Valley, Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . It is the second largest state in Northeast India, nor ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
. Dibrughar is the same type locality as that of ''
Channa bleheri''.
This species grows to 16 in (40 cm). It is probably a
mouthbrooder, like most of the smaller snakeheads. One report is known from a German aquarist that a couple of his fish had bred.
In the aquarium
The orange-spotted snakehead is predatory, so it should not be housed with smaller fishes. It is comfortable in a water temperature within the range of 15–28 °C, and a pH of around 7. It requires a large, dimly lit, well-planted tank with places to hide. It breathes air and will suffocate if it is prevented from reaching the surface.
References
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External links
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snakeheads.org the comprehensive website for all aspects of snakeheads
Orange-spotted snakehead
Fish described in 2000
{{Anabantiformes-stub