Snakehead identification

[Taker]

It can't be a Striata

And very unlikely a Maculata

I would still go with Channa Argus / Northern Snakehead

That being said I was seeing the confusion between Argus and Maculata. to the extent that it's not easy to tell them apart. But is that true?

DC how would you identify Argus from Maculata just from appearance alone?

Here is a video of Channa Maculata and what to me looks like Maculata also:

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And here are videos of what to me looks like Channa Argus but titled by the owner as Maculata:

[YT]/hYgpZAnDCYA[/YT]

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Did he get it wrong? I think so but I could be wrong. Can anyone tell me if Maculata can look exactly like Argus besides the obvious difference that I'm aware of?

 

[-DC-]

Yes there are visual differences between the 2 that can be used to id them but not in the pics provided in the original post. Hence why I asked if they were common and if more pics were available.

Hybrids between the 2 species also exist which could/does further complicate identification through pictures alone.


I have to ask what exactly are you basing your statement on when you sat that it's argus and not likely maculata?

IMO nobody could be sure from the pics provided I the original post. Could you tell me which below are argus or maculata in these pics of fish in similar condition as the original ?

 

[Taker]

Alright let's get down to finding this out. First, here are pictures of Maculata:

The typical visual comparison that I see on Maculata vs Argus are:

1)shorter bodied

2)shorter snout.

3)eyes appear to be located closer to snout

4) lower jaw is not as curved up, thicker and longer as Argus.

5) the blotches and bands are smaller and more diamond shaped unlike that of Argus. The lower bar of Maculata's diamond shaped blotches are often if not always fading in appearance compared to the upper bar of diamond shaped blotches.

6) If however the specimen is black in colour then I refer to 1-4 methods. Unless I could count its rays for further confirmation.

Having said that, the first photo posted by OP is that of a longer snout, eyes not closer to snout, very thick and curved up lower jaw. And body appears long although this is not that clear.

Nevertheless, it's no doubt the photos you posted asking me to identify which one is Argus and Maculata are confusing. Yet OP's first photo looks more Argus like compared to the ones you showed here. However I see how OP's first photo could be a giant Maculata or hybrid for that matter which would just lead me to realising that it's impossible to identify the two from each other, from these photos.

To answer your question, and I admit it's challenging:

I feel like they are all Maculata except for maybe the last photo but that too could be Maculata.

 

[Taker]

I wonder if there are differences in their teeth structure. Never had a chance to compare the two on that matter. Good learning.

 

[-DC-]

I think I have a link here somewhere on the teeth structure , I'll try to find it for you.

Excellent work ! Admirably I'm impressed . Your watching for all the right things and were wise enough to use ratios and not get fooled by that big jaw!

Your guess was correct they are all maculata , in fact all are of the exact same maculata . I chose the pics because this bad boy spent a year in the news as the first confirmed argus caught in Canada only to be proven a maculata by DNA testing. I find they also show just how much the angle can change the appearance of the fish.

 

[Taker]

I think I have a link here somewhere on the teeth structure , I'll try to find it for you.

Excellent work ! Admirably I'm impressed . Your watching for all the right things and were wise enough to use ratios and not get fooled by that big jaw!

Your guess was correct they are all maculata , in fact all are of the exact same maculata . I chose the pics because this bad boy spent a year in the news as the first confirmed argus caught in Canada only to be proven a maculata by DNA testing. I find they also show just how much the angle can change the appearance of the fish.

Glad I got it right! And thank you! I only noticed the first and second picture being the same guy holding the same fish. But you are right they all do look the same. So they are pictures of the same fish.

Do you see how it looks like a Wolf fish in those pictures? Especially in the first 3 pictures. I didn't know Maculata could look so badass. It is definitely a monster fish. It starts from looking like a normal small sized snakehead species but goes to looking like one of the top predators in its water.

Maculata has grown on me and if I'm not mistaken very few have gotten their hands on this species?

So I assume the Maculata caught in Canada was not to be worried about because I read they don't survive in the winter like Argus.

And yes I would love to see the difference in their teeth structure. That may help us better to confirm OP's first Snakehead picture.

 

[-DC-]

Correct, it would not have survived a winter it was just a released pet in a park pond, ironically when that pond was drained they caught all sorts of non-native and even potentially invasive species but the single channa who would not survive a winter is the only one that made the news.

Unfortunately facts don't stop the media from spreading it's fear mongering and they don't stop the ignorant people who are running the country from trying to put bans in place.

Maculata & argus are both 2 of the more common captive species. Not in the aquarium trade, but they are both heavily farmed around the world for food. Have your tried looking at fish markets instead of pet shops ?

I'm assuming that If they can be found live in Asian fish markets on this side of the world then there must be lots floating around on your side of the world just being marketed as food instead of pets .

 

[Taker]

Very smart and in fact I read an old thread posted years ago by a member from Msia mentioning that he saw live Channa Argus in a wet market aquarium. By the time others went to grab it, the remaining Snakeheads were already in the frozen section.

I was thinking about going there to check. After I read your post I went but Striatas were the only ones available (picture below). They were big and beautiful but messy. It was a sad sight for a Snakehead fan but what do I expect and Striatas are among the favourites for food.

I went and inquired a male staff in the section about the Snakehead fish Channa Argus from China he was clueless and asked his female colleague who had a smile on her face while shaking her head as if I had asked whether or not they sell fish from other planets.

I'll have to try other wet markets. Nevertheless, I had asked an aquarium shop keeper who had Channa Pseudomarulia from India available if he could get me Channa Argus. He said there was another guy looking for it also. He took my number and said will call once he gets them. I hope he does.

And later at a local lfs I saw a 1 and a half foot Emperor Snakehead (picture below). I believe it's the yellow variant.