Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anabantiformes (Gouramies, snakeheads) >
Channidae (Snakeheads)
Etymology: Channa: Greek, channe, -es = an anchovy (Ref. 45335); brunnea: Name from Latin adjective meaning ‘brown’, referring to the overall brownish colour of the body.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic. Tropical
Asia: India.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 11.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 120631)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 35 - 37; Anal soft rays: 24; Vertebrae: 43. This species is distinguished from its congenrs by the following characters: body uniformly dark brown, caudal fin with ochre to bright-orange blotches; dorsal-fin rays 35-37 (vs. 47-51); anal-fin rays 24 (vs. 28-32); fewer vertebrae 43 (vs. 45-57); lateral-line scales 43-46 (vs. 51-63) (Ref. 120631).
Cross section: oval.
Obligate air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Inhabits a swamp with silty bottom and lush aquatic vegetation> Lays floating eggs, with the mail guarding the nest (Ref. 120631).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Praveenraj, J., A. Uma, N. Moulitharan and R. Kannan, 2019. Channa brunnea, a new species of snakehead (Teleostei: Channidae) from West Bengal, India. Zootaxa 4624(1):59-70. (Ref. 120631)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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