African snakehead

Parachanna africana

Builds nests and hunts by sudden thrust

Tropical
Lower river
Regional distribution
Freshwater fish
Africa
Elongated
Medium
Tropical fish

Parachanna africana, the African snakehead or Niger snakehead, is a species of fish from west-central Africa. Little is published on its biology. Limited primarily to coastal sections of rivers, it is thought to be a nest-building, thrust predator like other Channidae.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Leaffishes, Snakeheads, and Gouramis
Family: Channidae
Genus: Parachanna
Maximum length: 32 cm
Water: Freshwater
Body shape: elongated
Distribution: Africa: south Benin (lower Ouémé River) to Nigeria (lower Cross River)(Ref. 57290 , 81648 ). Reports from Cameroon (Ref. 3575 , 51193 ) unconfirmed and questionable (Ref. 57290 , 81648 ). Report from Gabon dubious (Ref. 81648 ).
Conservation status: LCLeast Concern

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