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{{Speciesbox
{{Speciesbox
| name = Barca snakehead
| name = Barca snakehead
| image = Channa barca Day.png
| image = Channa barca - Hamilton 35 (cropped).jpg
| status = EN
| status = DD
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn | author = Chaudhry, S. | year = 2010 | title = ''Channa barca'' | volume = 2010 | page = e.T166596A6244166 | url = http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T166596A6244166.en | access-date = 22 December 2019}}</ref>
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Chaudhry, S. |date=2010 |title=''Channa barca'' |volume=2010 |page=e.T166596A6244166 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T166596A6244166.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Channa
| genus = Channa
| species = barca
| species = barca
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}}
}}


The '''Barca snakehead''' (''Channa barca'') is a rare species of [[Snakehead (fish)|snakehead]]. It is [[Endemism|endemic]] to the upper [[Brahmaputra river]] basin in northeastern [[India]] and [[Bangladesh]].<ref name=FishBase>{{FishBase | genus = Channa | species = barca | month = February | year = 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.iucnredlistbd.org/Species/Single/FI0003|title=Details - Updating Species Red List of Bangladesh|website=www.iucnredlistbd.org|access-date=2018-01-06}}</ref> Records from [[Nepal]] are of doubtful validity.<ref name=IUCN/> Overall it has been assessed as [[data deficient]] by the [[IUCN]],<ref name=IUCN/> and in 2014 it was assessed as [[critically endangered]] in Bangladesh by the IUCN.<ref name=":0" /> In Assam, it is locally known as ''cheng garaka'' or ''garaka cheng''.
The '''Barca snakehead''' (''Channa barca'') is a rare species of [[Snakehead (fish)|snakehead]]. It is [[Endemism|endemic]] to the upper [[Brahmaputra river]] basin in northeastern [[India]] and [[Bangladesh]].<ref name=FishBase>{{FishBase | genus = Channa | species = barca | month = February | year = 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.iucnredlistbd.org/Species/Single/FI0003|title=Details - Updating Species Red List of Bangladesh|website=www.iucnredlistbd.org|access-date=2018-01-06}}</ref> Records from [[Nepal]] are of doubtful validity.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> Overall it has been assessed as [[data deficient]] by the [[IUCN]],<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> and in 2014 it was assessed as [[critically endangered]] in Bangladesh by the IUCN.<ref name=":0" /> In Assam, it is locally known as ''cheng garaka'' or ''garaka cheng''.


This is a relatively large snakehead, reaching a [[total length]] of up to {{cvt|105|cm|ft|1}}.<ref name=FishBase/> The species is regarded as an excellent [[food fish]],<ref name=FishBase/> and it is also highly desired by aquarists, but its rarity, behavior and large size makes it unsuitable for most aquariums.<ref name=SeriouslyFish>SeriouslyFish: [http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/channa-barca/ Channa barca]. Retrieved 14 February 2019.</ref>
This is a relatively large snakehead, reaching a [[total length]] of up to {{cvt|105|cm|ft|1}}.<ref name=FishBase/> The species is regarded as an excellent [[food fish]],<ref name=FishBase/> and it is also highly desired by aquarists, but its rarity, behavior and large size makes it unsuitable for most aquariums.<ref name=SeriouslyFish>SeriouslyFish: [http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/channa-barca/ Channa barca]. Retrieved 14 February 2019.</ref>
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== Distribution, habitat and behavior==
== Distribution, habitat and behavior==
The barca snakehead is only known from the upper Brahmaputra river basin
The barca snakehead is only known from the upper Brahmaputra river basin
the [[Assam]] and [[Nagaland]] in India,<ref name=IUCN/> and [[Sylhet Division|Sylhet]] in Bangladesh.<ref name=":0"/> Records from [[Nepal]] are of doubtful validity.<ref name=IUCN/> It mostly inhabits wetlands, often near the margins, but can also be seen in riverine habitats.<ref name=Choudhury2003>Choudhury, M., and S.P. Biswas (2003). Maturity and spawning habit of an ornamental snakehead fish Channa barca (Hamilton). J. Ecophysiol. Occup. Hlth. 3: 149-152.</ref><ref name=Goswami2006>Goswami, M.M., B. Arunav, and P. Janardan (2006). Comparative biometry, habitat structure and distribution of endemic snakehead (Teleostei: Channidae) species of Assam, India. Journal of the Inland Fisheries Society of India 38(1): 1-8.</ref> It is able to withstand large variations in water temperature and oxygen levels as its habitat experiences large seasonal changes in flood levels.<ref name=Choudhury2003/> It often inhabits a vertical tunnel that typically is around {{convert|1|m|ft|spell=in}} long and goes down to the [[water table]]. The tunnel ends in a chamber where the fish may spend the dry season when the wetlands above it disappear.<ref name=SeriouslyFish/> Some other snakeheads that inhabit the same general region as the barca snakehead have also been reported to "[[hibernate]]" during the dry season, including the closely related [[orange-spotted snakehead]] (''C. aurantimaculata'').<ref name=Gogoi2016>Gogoi, N., L.P. Hazarika and S.P. Biswas (2016). Studies on the reproductive biology and captive breeding of an endemic fish from Assam Channa aurantimaculata. Journal of Environmental Biology 37: 369-374. {{doi|10.13140/RG.2.1.1548.3763}}</ref> The overall conservation status of the barca snakehead is poorly known, but it appears to generally be a scarce or rare species.<ref name=IUCN/><ref name=SeriouslyFish/>
the [[Assam]] and [[Nagaland]] in India,<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> and [[Sylhet Division|Sylhet]] in Bangladesh.<ref name=":0"/> Records from [[Nepal]] are of doubtful validity.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> It mostly inhabits wetlands, often near the margins, but can also be seen in riverine habitats.<ref name=Choudhury2003>Choudhury, M., and S.P. Biswas (2003). Maturity and spawning habit of an ornamental snakehead fish Channa barca (Hamilton). J. Ecophysiol. Occup. Hlth. 3: 149-152.</ref><ref name=Goswami2006>Goswami, M.M., B. Arunav, and P. Janardan (2006). Comparative biometry, habitat structure and distribution of endemic snakehead (Teleostei: Channidae) species of Assam, India. Journal of the Inland Fisheries Society of India 38(1): 1-8.</ref> It is able to withstand large variations in water temperature and oxygen levels as its habitat experiences large seasonal changes in flood levels.<ref name=Choudhury2003/> It often inhabits a vertical tunnel that typically is around {{convert|1|m|ft|spell=in}} long and goes down to the [[water table]]. The tunnel ends in a chamber where the fish may spend the dry season when the wetlands above it disappear.<ref name=SeriouslyFish/> Some other snakeheads that inhabit the same general region as the barca snakehead have also been reported to "[[hibernate]]" during the dry season, including the closely related [[orange-spotted snakehead]] (''C. aurantimaculata'').<ref name=Gogoi2016>Gogoi, N., L.P. Hazarika and S.P. Biswas (2016). Studies on the reproductive biology and captive breeding of an endemic fish from Assam Channa aurantimaculata. Journal of Environmental Biology 37: 369-374. {{doi|10.13140/RG.2.1.1548.3763}}</ref> The overall conservation status of the barca snakehead is poorly known, but it appears to generally be a scarce or rare species.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /><ref name=SeriouslyFish/>


The species is highly carnivorous,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Freshwater fishes of Bangladesh|last=Rahman|first=A.K. Ataur|publisher=Zoological Society of Bangladesh, Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka|year=2005|location=Dhaka, Bangladesh}}</ref> feeding mostly on fish.<ref name=Choudhury2003/> Little is known about the breeding behavior, but like its nearest relatives it is likely a [[mouthbrooder]].<ref name=SeriouslyFish/> Maturity may occur when only {{cvt|12.5|cm|0}} long, but most individuals are around two or three times that size before they reach it.<ref name=Choudhury2003/> The breeding season is prolonged and begins when the [[beel]]s they inhabit are flooded by pre-[[Monsoon of South Asia|monsoonal]] rain in April–May. The species has a low [[fecundity]] and both parents take care of the young.<ref name=Choudhury2003/>
The species is highly carnivorous,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Freshwater fishes of Bangladesh|last=Rahman|first=A.K. Ataur|publisher=Zoological Society of Bangladesh, Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka|year=2005|location=Dhaka, Bangladesh}}</ref> feeding mostly on fish.<ref name=Choudhury2003/> Little is known about the breeding behavior, but like its nearest relatives it is likely a [[mouthbrooder]].<ref name=SeriouslyFish/> Maturity may occur when only {{cvt|12.5|cm|0}} long, but most individuals are around two or three times that size before they reach it.<ref name=Choudhury2003/> The breeding season is prolonged and begins when the [[beel]]s they inhabit are flooded by pre-[[Monsoon of South Asia|monsoonal]] rain in April–May. The species has a low [[fecundity]] and both parents take care of the young.<ref name=Choudhury2003/>

Latest revision as of 19:45, 11 February 2022


Barca snakehead
Scientific classification edit
: [[Template:Taxonomy/Channa]]
Species:
Binomial name
Template:Taxonomy/ChannaChanna barca
(F. Hamilton, 1822)
Synonyms[2]
  • Ophiocephalus barca Hamilton, 1822
  • Ophicephalus nigricans Cuvier, 1831

The Barca snakehead (Channa barca) is a rare species of snakehead. It is endemic to the upper Brahmaputra river basin in northeastern India and Bangladesh.[2][3] Records from Nepal are of doubtful validity.[1] Overall it has been assessed as data deficient by the IUCN,[1] and in 2014 it was assessed as critically endangered in Bangladesh by the IUCN.[3] In Assam, it is locally known as cheng garaka or garaka cheng.

This is a relatively large snakehead, reaching a total length of up to 105 cm (3.4 ft).[2] The species is regarded as an excellent food fish,[2] and it is also highly desired by aquarists, but its rarity, behavior and large size makes it unsuitable for most aquariums.[4]

Distribution, habitat and behavior[edit | edit source]

The barca snakehead is only known from the upper Brahmaputra river basin the Assam and Nagaland in India,[1] and Sylhet in Bangladesh.[3] Records from Nepal are of doubtful validity.[1] It mostly inhabits wetlands, often near the margins, but can also be seen in riverine habitats.[5][6] It is able to withstand large variations in water temperature and oxygen levels as its habitat experiences large seasonal changes in flood levels.[5] It often inhabits a vertical tunnel that typically is around 1 metre (3.3 ft)* long and goes down to the water table. The tunnel ends in a chamber where the fish may spend the dry season when the wetlands above it disappear.[4] Some other snakeheads that inhabit the same general region as the barca snakehead have also been reported to "hibernate" during the dry season, including the closely related orange-spotted snakehead (C. aurantimaculata).[7] The overall conservation status of the barca snakehead is poorly known, but it appears to generally be a scarce or rare species.[1][4]

The species is highly carnivorous,[8] feeding mostly on fish.[5] Little is known about the breeding behavior, but like its nearest relatives it is likely a mouthbrooder.[4] Maturity may occur when only 12.5 cm (5 in) long, but most individuals are around two or three times that size before they reach it.[5] The breeding season is prolonged and begins when the beels they inhabit are flooded by pre-monsoonal rain in April–May. The species has a low fecundity and both parents take care of the young.[5]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Chaudhry, S. (2010). "Channa barca". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T166596A6244166. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T166596A6244166.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Template:FishBase
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Details - Updating Species Red List of Bangladesh". www.iucnredlistbd.org. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 SeriouslyFish: Channa barca. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Choudhury, M., and S.P. Biswas (2003). Maturity and spawning habit of an ornamental snakehead fish Channa barca (Hamilton). J. Ecophysiol. Occup. Hlth. 3: 149-152.
  6. Goswami, M.M., B. Arunav, and P. Janardan (2006). Comparative biometry, habitat structure and distribution of endemic snakehead (Teleostei: Channidae) species of Assam, India. Journal of the Inland Fisheries Society of India 38(1): 1-8.
  7. Gogoi, N., L.P. Hazarika and S.P. Biswas (2016). Studies on the reproductive biology and captive breeding of an endemic fish from Assam Channa aurantimaculata. Journal of Environmental Biology 37: 369-374. doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.1548.3763
  8. Rahman, A.K. Ataur (2005). Freshwater fishes of Bangladesh. Dhaka, Bangladesh: Zoological Society of Bangladesh, Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka.

External links[edit | edit source]