Murrel Fish, For Cooking, Food, Human Consumption, Making Medicine, Making Oil, Style : Alive, Dried

Murrel belongs to Channidae family. They are widely distributed in tropical Africa (three species) and Southern Asia predominantly in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and China. A total of 33 species are globally identified, of this 30 belong to Channa genera, and remaining 3 belong to Parachanna genera. Only 13 species are stated in India.

Murrel is also called as snakehead as it looks like a snake. Murrel is valued and fetches a higher market price especially in states like  and Haryana due to its eminent nutrition and medicinal value. Hardy nature and ability withstand longer time out of water add greater value to Murrels in the market. Specialized trade involving live fishes is also practiced in India.

Murrel is one of the indigenous air breathing fish; there is a suprabranchial accessory respiratory organ in the murrel head. Murrels can even survive in lower dissolved oxygen levels.

The most important aquaculture species of murrel in India is the striped murrel (Channa striata), the great snakehead murrel (Channa marulius) and the spotted snakehead (Channa punctata). The culture technology is standardised only for striped murrel.