Channa punctata (Bloch, 1793)

[N]—Spotted snakehead

Taxonomy. Original description: Ophicephalus punctatus Bloch, 1793: 139, pl. 358 [no locality (not Malabar Coast, India); syntypes: ZMB 1394 (2)].— Afghanistan synonyms: Channa punctate (Bloch, 1793); Channa punctatus (Bloch, 1793); Ophiocephalus affinis Günther, 1861; Ophicephalus indicus McClelland, 1842; Ophicephalus karruwey Lacepède, 1801; Ophiocephalus lata Hamilton, 1822 .—Revisions: Dhanze & Sen (1993: 47).— Illustration: Bloch 1793: pl. 358) as Ophiocephalus punctatus .

Status in Afghanistan. First record from Afghanistan by Day (1875–1978: 1880); confirmed by Coad (1981: 17; 2014: 314; 2015: 229).—Afghanistan materials: None.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Afghanistan: Kabul River.—General distribution: South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and China; introduced elsewhere.—Habitat: This species inhabits freshwater streams, rivers, ponds, and tanks, generally in the plains, and is also found in rice fields and irrigation channels. Adults prefer stagnant waters in muddy streams and breed throughout the year. Freshwater.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

Reasons of introduction. Ornamental fish industry.

Conservation. Conservation status in Afghanistan: Unknown.—IUCN: LC (Chaudhry et al. 2019).—Threats: FIT, CON, HAB, EUT.—Low sensitivity to human activities.—Not considered as a keystone species.—Decline status: Stable.—Low priority for conservation action.