Abstract:
The freshwater fish family Channidae comprises only one genus; Channa with five
species native to Sri Lanka which includes C. ara, C. striata, C. orientalis, C. punctata
and C. gachua (C. kellartii). All members of this genus are restricted to freshwater
habitats. Some members are commercially harvested in significantly large numbers
as food fish (Channa striata) and for aquarium trade (C.ara and C. orientalis). The
objectives of the current study are to, (1) examine the current status of taxonomy of
Channidae of Sri Lanka (2) explore the current knowledge on the biogeography of
Channidae in Sri Lanka. According to available literature on Sri Lankan Channidae,
three species of snakeheads are endemic to the island namely; C. ara, C. orientalis
and C. kelaartii. However, in global literature on family Channidae, the taxonomic
validity of C. ara remains ambiguous. Further, repeatedly published records
morphologically presumed by authors as C. orientalis, from the Indian subcontinent
questions its endemic status in Sri Lanka. Interestingly, the name C. kelaarti is
reported as available for the concurrent synonym for C. gachua after a DNA
barcoding study, on which a proper taxonomic review is pending. A distribution
review on recent field surveys in Sri Lanka (since 1980), including our preliminary
work have recorded Channa ara, C. striata, C. punctata and C. gachua (C. kellartii)
from the South-western, Dry zone and the Mahaweli icthiological zones. However,
the current study reinstates the distribution of Channidae with previous findings
where C. ara, C. orientalis and C. punctata were only recorded from the south–
western ichthyological zone of Sri Lanka. Our preliminary findings show that a
critical taxonomic review using both the morphological and molecular evidence is
essential in determining the species status and endemicity of Sri Lankan Chaniindae
while their biogeographical affinities would reveal an interesting evolutionary
history.
