Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Family Channidae Scientific name Channa marulius Higher classification Channa Order Perciformes | |
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Similar Channa, Snakehead, Orange‑spotted snakehead, Channa harcourtbutleri, Channa marulioides | ||
Hand feeding channa marulius bullseye snakehead
The bullseye snakehead or great snakehead (Channa marulius) is a large species of snakehead native to South and Southeast Asia, as well as southern China. It has been introduced to the United States, where considered invasive.
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Channa marulius giant snakehead gan ara channa ara
In India
In South India, it is commonly found in reservoirs. It is found in Pechpparai, Chittar, Manimuthar, Bhvani and Mettur dams of Tamil Nadu and Thenmalai, Neyyar and Idukki dams of Kerala. It can also be found in the reservoirs of Himachal Pradesh such as the Pong Dam (Maharana Pratap Sagar), where it is known locally as soal. C. marlius is commonly known as giant murrel. In Assam, it is locally known as xaal. It is a faster-growing fish than most of the other species of the genus. It is a carnivorous species. It is marketed live and fetches high prices in the market. The flesh has high nutritive value and its flesh is said to have wound-healing effect and recuperative attributes. It is highly suitable for intensive culture due to its air-breathing habit.
In Manipur, India, it is called porom. It is a popular local cuisine item. It is found in canals, rivers and lakes of the region. In Loktak lake, Bishnupur district, Manipur, it has become one of the top predatory fish due to acute decline of other predatory fish, Usually it is found in the wild, but it is now farmed to meet the increasing demand in local market. In Telangana, India, it is called Korrameenu, and is quite common in lakes and reservoirs.
In the United States
In the United States, it can be found in waterways throughout South Florida originating from the C-14 Canal where the species was first introduced. Chances of this warm water species migrating to Northern Florida are slim. The bullseye snakehead has not been documented outside of Florida in the United States.
