Description

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Synbranchiformes

Family: Synbranchidae

Genus: Ophisternon

Species: Ophisternon bengalense McClelland, 1844

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Adults inhabit both fresh and brackish waters of rivers and swamps (Ref. 2847, 44894) or near the river mouth (Ref. 13533). They occur mainly in thick vegetation of muddy, still water bodies, such as lagoons, swamps, canals and rice fields (Ref. 6028). Live in soft bottom sediments in quiet, well vegetated backwaters of brackish estuaries and nearby swamps (Ref. 44894), usually in burrows. Prefer estuarine or tidal areas, as efficient burrowers. The male guards and builds nest or burrow (Ref. 205). Marketed fresh, usually not kept alive for long periods of time (Ref. 12693).

Habitat

brackish