Channa

Channa is a genus of the Channidae family of snakehead fish. This genus contains 34 scientifically described species, but the most well known are probably the northern snakehead (Channa argus) and the giant snakehead (Channa micropeltes). Channa has a wide natural distribution extending from Iran in the west, to China in the east, and parts of Siberia in the Far East. They are one of the most common staple food fish in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and other South East Asian countries, where they are extensively cultured. Apart from their importance as a food fish, snakeheads are also consumed as a therapeutic for wound healing as well as reducing post-operative pain and discomfort, and collected for the international aquarium pet trade. The diets of various species of Channa include fish, frogs, snakes, rodents, birds, and insects. Some can move on land like snakes, and breathe air.

The taxonomy of the genus Channa is incomplete and a comprehensive revision of the family has not been performed. A phylogenetic study in 2010 has also indicated the likelihood of the existence of more undescribed species of channids in South East Asia. In June 2011, the Malabar snakehead Channa diplogramma from peninsular India was shown to be a distinct species, 146 years after its initial description and 134 years after it was synonymised with C. micropeltes, establishing it is an endemic species of peninsular India. The study also suggested that the species shared a most recent common ancestor with C. micropeltes, around 9.52 to 21.76 MYA.

Channa (disambiguation)

Channa may refer to:

See also

Channa (Sindhi tribe)

Channa (Sindhi: چنا, Urdu: چنہ ) also spells as Chana, is one of the ancient Sindhi tribes in Sindh, Pakistan. They are Surya Rajputs and monarch was Dasharatha.

History and origin

After the accession of Chach of Alor all the four outlying provinces which Hieun Tsang saw as parts of Sind, declared independence. Since he saw a Sudra ruling Sind, Chach may have ascended the throne after 640 A.D. and the four provinces rebelled on his usurpation. Among the tribes, which raised this rebellion, Chachnama mentions Sama, Sahta, Channa, Lohana and Jats. It seems that the rebellion was subdued by winning over Buddhist priests (Shamanis), as Arabs saw most of forts held by them in 711 CE. The powerful Governor of Bahmanabad, Agham Lohana, was defeated and killed. The Jat, the Lohana, the Sama, Sahta and the Channa tribes who were mainly Buddhists refused to acknowledge the over lordship of the Hindu Raja.

References