Channidae is a family of freshwater perciform fish commonly known as snakeheads, and is native to Africa and Asia . There are two genera, Channa in Asia, and Parachanna in Africa, consisting of 31 species. These predatory fishes are distinguished by a long dorsal fin, small head with large head scales on top, large mouth and teeth. They have a physiological need to breathe atmospheric air, which they do with a suprabranchial organ : a primitive form of a labyrinth organ .
They are considered valuable food fish. Larger species are farmed in aquaculture. Snakeheads feed on plankton, aquatic insects, and mollusks when small. When adult, they mostly feed on other fish like carp, or frogs. In rare cases, small mammals such as rats are taken. The size of the snakehead species differs greatly. "Dwarf snakeheads" like Channa gachua grow to 10 inches. Most snakeheads grow up to 2 or 3 ft. (60-100 cm). Only two species (Channa marulius and Channa micropeltes) can reach a length of more than 1 meter and a weight of more than 6 kg.
It is illegal to keep snakeheads as pets in thirteen states of the USA and other countries as they have become an invasive species due to irresponsible owners releasing them into the wild when they could/would no longer take care of them
Snakeheads can become invasive species and cause ecological damage because they are top-level predators, meaning that they have no natural enemies outside of their native environment. Not only can they breathe atmospheric air, but they can also survive on land for up to 3 days, provided they are wet, and are known to migrate on wet land to other bodies of water by wriggling with their body and fins.
