Wednesday, February 20, 2008

snakeheads

A SAVAGE fish more terrifying than a piranha has been caught in Britain for the first time — sparking fears of a deadly invasion.


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 33 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.




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