The giant snake head Channa micropeltes is the largest in the Channidae family capable of growing over 5 feet.It is widely distributed in the freshwater of South East Asia and some regions of India.The scientific name of the giant snakehead is Channa micropeltes and other names include red snakehead redline snakehead Malabar snakehead and Ikan toman where ikan is Malay for fish.

The young of the giant snakehead is red in color with orange and black lateral stripes appearing after about two months.As the giant snakehead matures they lose their stripes and instead develops a bluish black and white pattern on their upper body. Juveniles sold in the aquarium fish trade are commonly called red or redline snakeheads.

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