Channa cyanospilos

{pronunciation} cy-anno-spill-oss

First description:

Bleeker, P. 1853.
Ophicephalus cyanospilos.
Diagnostische besschrijvingen van Sumatra.
Nat. Tids. Ned. Ind. Vol 4, pp 243-302.

Diagnostic:

Volz (1904) and Weber and de Beaufort (1922) declared this fish synonymous with Channa striata.
However, this species was re-erected by Ng and Lim (1991) after two specimens were captured in Northern Sumatra and later identified as C.cyanospilos.

Meristic:

D: 38-43 A: 24-26 C: 12-15 P:15 V: present (6) Ratio: 2.9

Ll:

51-55

Description:

The dorsal and anal fin has a tinged, bluish-green basal pigment w ith a thin, distinct outer white margin and scattered, whitish spots around the posterior. A similar base colour is exhibited by the caudal, the ray membrane being a brown colour with occasional white spots. Pelvic fins whitish.

The mid-torso colour is a dark brown. On the lower part of the body, pale blue to whitish spots are strewn from the snout to the tail. The head region is more densely patterened.

Size:

208 mm.

Geographical location:

Telok Betong, Southern Sumatra (Bleeker 1853); Lake Toba, Northern Sumatra Volz (1904); Sungei Wumbih, Northern Sumatra Ng and Lim (1991).