Synonyms:

Ophicephalus gachua Hamilton, 1822

original description

Ophicephalus marginatus Cuvier, 1829

junior synonym

Ophicephalus limbatus Cuvier, 1831

junior synonym

Ophicephalus tadianus Vaillant, 1904

junior synonym

Ophiocephalus gachua Mai, 1978

invalid combination, misspelling

Vernacular names:

宽额鳢

Mandarin Chinese

Dwarf snakehead

Brown snakehead

English

Etymology:

Generic name ‘Channa’ derives from the Greek word ‘channe’ = anchovy; gender: feminine.

Specific epithet is a noun in apposition.

Size / Weight:

87 mm SL, northern Vietnam (Kottelat, 2001).

116.6 mm SL, 144.8 mm TL, EPC 0626, EW-CN 66-09, Mengyejiang River, Red River basin, Puer County, Yunnan Province, China (ME, 2009-12-31, 2010-05-12).

103-156 mm SL, 10 ex., Nandujiang River basin, Hainan Island, China; usually <200 mm SL (Zhong in Pan et al., 1991).

Diagnosis:

3-3.5 transverse scales from dorsal fin origin to lateral line.

Coloration: Depending on location; white, yellow, orange or red margin in unpaired fins; conspicuous color pattern of pectoral fin: dark basal blotch and dark transverse bars.

Sex differentiation:

Brighter coloration in unpaired fins in nuptial males.

Distribution:

In marginal backwaters of EW-CN 66-09, Mengyejiang River 勐野江, tributary to Lixianjiang River李仙江, Red River 红河 basin, Yunnan Province, China (ME, 2009-12-30, 2010-01-06).

Extended range through Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia; inhabiting ditches, pools and stagnant and slowly running backwaters of hill streams or moderate - fast running streams; occurring in all mayor drainages in southern provinces of China. 

Ecology:

Singly, during breeding season in pairs.

Carnivorous; primary piscivorous, but also prey upon amphibia, aquatic insects; wide array of food items.

In some areas of the distributional range temperatures may reach 0˚C during winter, hibernating is not confirmed.

Reproduction: Ovophilic, paternal mouthbrooder; male release fry when sized 8 mm TL off buccal cavity; fry is guarded by both parents.

Conservation status:

IUCN Red List not evaluated.

Aquarium maintenance:

Due to its moderate size and appealing appearance a suitable snakehead species for aquaria; easy to keep; not too aggressive; requires a well planted spacious tank, especially when not kept singly.

Tank mates should be larger than the snakeheads to prevent engulfing.

Not picky on water values as long as they don’t go extreme. Cold over-wintering for specimens from areas featuring a climate with low winter temperatures is recommend.   

Remarks:

There is wide taxonomic confusion about a very similar species, viz. Channa orientalis Bloch & Schneider, 1801; Ch. orientalis do not have pelvic fins.