Parachanna obscura

Morphology

Parachanna obscura is a medium-sized carnivorous fish with an elongated shape tapered on both ends, and is covered in medium circular (cycloid) scales. The head, resembling a snake, is long and depressed anteriorly and covered with cycloid scales slightly larger than those scales on the body. The eyes are laterally located and large, helping to locate its prey quickly. Two pairs of nostrils occur on either side of the head. The mouth is large, and because the lower jaw is slightly longer than the upper jaw (giving it an "underbite"), the fish is able to thrust out its lower jaw (protract) to catch its prey. The fish has two rows of teeth. The outer row consists of small, sharp, conical teeth, and the inner row consists of four to six large canine-like teeth. P. obscura has a single lateral line. P.obscuralarvae are yellow in color, transitioning to an ochre base coloration with a black stripe down its flank from the snout to the caudal fin. The coloration of P. obscura adults and juveniles consists of dark blackish, rounded spots found along the flanks. The ventral side of the fish has a yellowish, reddish, and brownish marbling pattern. Dark spots on the back and lateral dark bands on the head help to define the fish.