Channa maculata
Encyclopedia
Channa maculata, the blotched snakehead, is a species of snakehead
. It is native to southern China
and northern Vietnam
, but has been widely introduced to other countries, where it is an invasive species
. Adults typically grow to a length of 11 centimetres (4.3 in), but a maximum of 20 cm (8 in) has been recorded.
Channidae
The Snakeheads are members of the freshwater perciform fish family Channidae, native to Africa and Asia. These elongated predatory fish are distinguished by a long dorsal fin, large mouth and shiny teeth. They breathe air with a suprabranchial organ, a primitive form of a labyrinth organ...
. It is native to southern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and northern Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, but has been widely introduced to other countries, where it is an invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
. Adults typically grow to a length of 11 centimetres (4.3 in), but a maximum of 20 cm (8 in) has been recorded.