Channa striata
Encyclopedia
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
.
, 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. 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. Early- to mid-20th century reports and texts referring to its introduction in California appear to be the result of a misunderstanding.
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.
as Pla Chon . This fish is very popular in Thai cuisine where it is prepared in a variety of ways, especially barbecue
d, 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.
In the Philippines
, snakeheads are known as dalag, haloan, and mudfish by the locals. They are commonly served either fried, grilled, or with soup.
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.
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...
fish. It is also known as the common snakehead, chevron snakehead, striped snakehead, haloan, aruan, haruan and dalag. It is native to South
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
and has been introduced to some Pacific Islands
Pacific Islands
The Pacific Islands comprise 20,000 to 30,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. The islands are also sometimes collectively called Oceania, although Oceania is sometimes defined as also including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago....
and Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
.
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 ChinaChina
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...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, most of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, southern Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
and most of South-east Asia. It has more recently been introduced to the outmost parts of Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, and Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
. 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. The only currently confirmed Hawaiian establishment of C. striata is on a commercial fish farm
Fish farming
Fish farming is the principal form of aquaculture, while other methods may fall under mariculture. Fish farming involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures, usually for food. A facility that releases young fish into the wild for recreational fishing or to supplement a species'...
. Popular media and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
were perpetuating this apparent mistake as recently as 2002. Early- to mid-20th century reports and texts referring to its introduction in California appear to be the result of a misunderstanding.
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
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
in the state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
and it is locally called as "varaal". The curry made with this fish and tapioca is a delicacy in Kerala.
Gastronomy
The common snakehead or mudfish is known in Thai languageThai language
Thai , also known as Central Thai and Siamese, is the national and official language of Thailand and the native language of the Thai people, Thailand's dominant ethnic group. Thai is a member of the Tai group of the Tai–Kadai language family. Historical linguists have been unable to definitively...
as Pla Chon . This fish is very popular in Thai cuisine where it is prepared in a variety of ways, especially barbecue
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
d, being a common food item offered by street vendors.
Pla ra
Pla ra
Pla ra is fermented fish sauce, popular in Northeastern Thai cuisine.It is made by pickling several varieties of fish, mainly Snakehead Murrel . The fish is cleaned and cut into pieces, after which it is mixed with salt and rice bran...
, a fermented fish sauce, popular in Northeastern Thai cuisine is made by pickling common snakeheads and keeping it for some time.
In Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
common snakeheads are known as gabus and are a popular type of salted
Salt-cured meat
Salt-cured meat or salted meat, for example bacon and kippered herring, is meat or fish preserved or cured with salt. Salting, either with dry salt or brine, was the only widely available method of preserving meat until the 19th century...
fishes in Indonesian cuisine.
There is also a Chinese sausage
Chinese sausage
Chinese sausage is a generic term referring to the many different types of sausages originating in China. It is commonly known by its Cantonese name "Lap Cheong" or "Lap Chong" .-Varieties:...
prepared with common snakehead flesh in Thailand.
In the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, 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 BrothersBathini Goud Brothers
The Bathini Goud Brothers is a Goud family living in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. The Goud family is known for the cure of asthma, thru a home made ancestral remedy, the treatment involves the swallowing of live fish filled with medicine, claiming that it will cure asthma...
in Hyderabad, India, promote the swallowing of live murrel fish and herbs as an asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
treatment, although the high court ruled that they cannot call it "medicine". They give it free to children on Mrigasira Nakshatra
Mrigashirsha
Sanskrit mr̥gáśiras the 5th nakshatra or lunar mansion as used in Hindu astronomy and astrology is the constellation Orion. Its position is described in the Surya Siddhanta....
. There is no evidence that it is clinically effective, and children's rights campaigners have called for it to be banned.