Description

Why In News?

Q: What is Channa stewartii?

Channa stewartii, commonly known as the Assamese snakehead, is a colorful, freshwater dwarf snakehead fish endemic to the Brahmaputra and Ganges river basins.

The Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI) conducted the first hormone-free captive breeding and larval rearing of Channa stewartii.

About Channa Stewartii

Scientific Name: Channa stewartii (Order: Anabantiformes, Family: Channidae).
Common Names: Assamese snakehead, Orange-spotted snakehead, and Dwarf snakehead.
Nomenclature: The species was named to honour Major Robert Stewart, a 19th-century colonial Superintendent of Cachar in Assam, where the type specimens were collected.

Habitat and Geographic Distribution

Endemism: It is endemic to the Brahmaputra River basin (upper, middle, and lower) and the Ganges River basin.
Region: Native to Northeast India (specifically Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Tripura), Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.
Ecosystem: Inhabits freshwater hill streams, clear mountain waters, and ponds.

Key Biological & Physical Characteristics

Appearance: Features an elongated, cylindrical, snake-like body capable of growing up to 25–30 cm in length.

It is highly visually appealing, sporting a dark body with bright orange spots, reddish-pink pectoral fins, and iridescent blue fins with black patches.

Breathing Adaptation: It is an air-breathing fish. It possesses a unique suprabranchial organ that allows it to extract oxygen directly from atmospheric air.

This evolutionary trait enables the fish to survive in oxygen-deprived environments and even undertake short overland journeys.

Diet: A carnivorous predator that feeds on small fish, crustaceans, and insects.

Economic & Ecological Significance

Ornamental Value: Due to its striking coloration and manageable size, it is a highly prized species in the global ornamental aquarium trade.

logical Indicator: Presence and health of Channa stewartii populations act as an indicator of biodiversity and the overall health of the ecosystems in Northeast India.

Conservation Status & Threats

IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC)
Threats: High risk of over-exploitation for the aquarium trade, illegal fishing, and habitat destruction in hill streams.

Source: DECCANHERALD

Attempt Daily Quiz

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. With reference to the Channa stewartii, consider the following statements:

It is an obligate air-breathing fish that utilizes a suprabranchial organ to extract oxygen directly from the air.
It is endemic primarily to the Western Ghats region of India.
The ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI) recently achieved India's first hormone-free captive breeding of this species.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 2 and 3 only

C) 1 and 3 only

D) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: C.

Explanation:

Statement 1 is CORRECT: Channa stewartii (and other snakeheads in the genus Channa) are obligate air-breathing fish. They possess a primitive lung-like structure called a suprabranchial organ (or labyrinth organ), which allows them to inhale atmospheric air to survive in oxygen-poor waters. Without access to the surface to gulp air, these fish can actually drown.

Statement 2 is INCORRECT: The species is endemic to the Northeastern region of India, specifically found in the hill streams of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, as well as parts of the Eastern Himalayas.

Statement 3 is CORRECT: In May 2026, the ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI) successfully conducted India's first hormone-free captive breeding of Channa stewartii.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Channa stewartii, commonly known as the Assamese snakehead, is a colorful, freshwater dwarf snakehead fish endemic to the Brahmaputra and Ganges river basins.

It is an obligate air-breathing fish that possesses a unique suprabranchial organ, allowing it to extract oxygen directly from atmospheric air and survive in oxygen-deprived waters.

While globally listed as 'Least Concern' by the IUCN, regional populations are at high risk due to overexploitation for the aquarium trade, illegal fishing, and habitat destruction.