Snakeheads: Channoidei

Snakeheads have a long tube-shaped body and flat head covered in large, shield-like scales. They have long soft dorsal and anal fins, a large mouth with large teeth on both upper and lower jaws, smooth or rough body scales, and an air-breathing organ in the head. The dorsal (DOOR-suhl) fin is the one along the midline of the back. The anal (AY-nuhl) fin is the one along the midline of the belly. Many snakeheads have large spots resembling eyes on the body and on the tail fin, up-and-down bands on the pectoral fins, and small spots on the body. The pectoral (PECKter-uhl) fins correspond to the front legs of four-footed animals.