Bostrychoides Lacépède, 1801 Ophiocephalus Bloch, 1793 Philypnoides Bleeker, 1849 Psiloides Fischer, 1813 Pterops Rafinesque, 1815 Channa is a genus of predatory fish in the family Channidae, commonly known as snakeheads, native to freshwater habitats in Asia.

The large and medium-sized Channa species are among the most common staple food fish in several Asian countries, and they are extensively cultured.

[1] Apart from their importance as a food fish, snakeheads are consumed in some regions as a traditional medicine for wound healing and reducing postoperative pain and discomfort,[1] and collected for the international aquarium pet trade.

[2] All snakeheads are highly predatory, and the diets of the various species of Channa include fish, amphibians (like frogs), snakes, rodents, birds, and invertebrates (insects and crustaceans).

[1] They have a labyrinth organ, which allows them to breathe air for short periods, and they use this adaptation to travel across land in the event that their habitat becomes inhospitable.