Channa ara (Deraniyagala, 1945)

English Name - Giant Snakehead
Sinhala Name - අරා / ගංඟරා

Giant Snakehead

An endemic, rare fish species recorded from both wet and dry-zones of low land. Recent study found only few specimens from the wet zone of southern and western Sri Lanka. Adult Giant snakehead can grow over meter long and prefers and deep pools in large rivers. The sexes are similar in apperance. The Giant Snakehead is listed as an Endangered species in the national red list 2012.