Channa striata

Snakehead murrel
Chiana striata, after Bleeker, 1879
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Channidae
Genus:	Channa
Species:	C. striata
Binomial name
Channa striata (Bloch, 1793)
Distribution of Channa striata. Source: USGS 2004[1]
Synonyms[1]
Ophiocephalus striatus Bloch Ophiocephalus vagus Peters

The snakehead murrel, Channa striata, is a species of snakehead fish. It is also known as the common snakehead, chevron snakehead, striped snakehead, haloan, aruan, haruan and dalag. It is native to South and Southeast Asia and has been introduced to some Pacific Islands and Madagascar.

Introduction

It grows up to 1 m in length, though because of fishing this size is rarely found in the wild. It has a widespread range covering southern China, Pakistan, most of India, southern Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and most of South-east Asia. It has more recently been introduced to the outmost parts of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Mauritius. Reports beginning in the early 20th century that it was introduced into the wild in Hawaii, particularly the island of Oahu, are the apparent result of misidentifications, according to a publication.^[2] The only currently confirmed Hawaiian establishment of C. striata is on a commercial fish farm. Popular media and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service were perpetuating this apparent mistake as recently as 2002.^[3][4] Early- to mid-20th century reports and texts referring to its introduction in California appear to be the result of a misunderstanding.^[5]

It is an important food fish in its entire native range and is of considerable economic importance. Adults are dark brown in colour with faint black bands visible across its entire body. Males and females both help to construct a nest out of water vegetation during breeding time. Eggs are guarded by both parents. Fry are reddish orange and are guarded by both parents until they turn greenish brown at around 5–6 cm.

It is common in freshwater plains, where it migrates from rivers and lakes into flooded fields, returning to the permanent water bodies in the dry season, where it survives by burrowing in the mud.

It preys on frogs, water bugs, smaller fish and it will attack anything moving when they are breeding. It is also found in South India in the state of Kerala and it is locally called as "varaal". The curry made with this fish and tapioca is a delicacy in Kerala.

Gastronomy

Snakehead fish packed with lemon grass and lime leaves ready for steaming

The common snakehead or mudfish is known in Thai language as Pla Chon (Thai: ปลาช่อน).^[6] This fish is very popular in Thai cuisine where it is prepared in a variety of ways, especially barbecued, being a common food item offered by street vendors.

Pla ra, a fermented fish sauce, popular in Northeastern Thai cuisine is made by pickling common snakeheads and keeping it for some time.

In Indonesia common snakeheads are known as gabus and are a popular type of salted fishes in Indonesian cuisine.

There is also a Chinese sausage prepared with common snakehead flesh in Thailand.^[7]

In the Philippines, snakeheads are known as dalag, haloan, and mudfish by the locals. They are commonly served either fried, grilled, or with soup.

Medical use

The Bathini Goud Brothers in Hyderabad, India, promote the swallowing of live murrel fish and herbs as an asthma treatment, although the high court ruled that they cannot call it "medicine". They give it free to children on Mrigasira Nakshatra. There is no evidence that it is clinically effective, and children's rights campaigners have called for it to be banned.^[8][9]

References

• "Channa striata". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=166667. Retrieved 18 April 2006. 
• Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2006). "Channa striata" in FishBase. January 2006 version.

1. ^ ^{a b} Courtenay, Jr., Walter R. and James D. Williams. Channa striata USGS Circular 1251: Snakeheads (Pisces, Chinnidae) - A Biological Synopsis and Risk Assessment. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. 2004-04-01. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
2. ^ Walter R. Courtenay, Jr., James D. Williams, Ralf Britz, Mike N. Yamamoto, and Paul V. Loiselle. Bishop Occasional Papers, 2004. [1] Identity of Introduced Snakeheads (Pisces, Channidae) in Hawaii and Madagascar, with Comments on Ecological Concerns.
3. ^ Akana-Gooch, Keiko Kiele. Hawaii snakehead lacks ferocity of mainland kin: A kinder, gentler fish, it poses no local threat to the environment. Honolulu Star-Bulletin. 2002-07-28. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
4. ^ Federal Register: July 26, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 144). Federal Register Online. 2002-07-26. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
5. ^ Dill, William A., and Almo J. Cordone. Chevron snakehead, Channa striata (Bloch) History and status of introduced fishes in California, 1871-1996. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
6. ^ Fishing in Thailand (Thai)
7. ^ Recipes
8. ^ "Indians flock for asthma 'cure'". BBC News. 9 June 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2974810.stm. Retrieved 5 June 2011. 
9. ^ "SHRC moved against `fish medicine'". Times of India. 1 June 2011. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-01/hyderabad/29607946_1_fish-medicine-traditional-medicine-bathini-goud-brothers. Retrieved 5 June 2011. 

External links

• snakeheads.org