Ictiobus

Ictiobus, also known as buffalofish or simply buffalo, is a genus of freshwater fish common in the United States, but also found in Canada, Mexico, and Guatemala. They are the largest North American suckers, reaching up to 1.23 m (4.0 ft) in length.[1] At up to 112 years, they can reach the highest known age for a freshwater teleost.[2] They are sometimes mistaken for carp because of the flat face and large, silver scales running along the body, though they lack the whisker-like barbels common to carp. Buffalo fish live in most types of freshwater bodies where panfish are found, such as ponds, creeks, rivers, and lakes. Ictiobus fish were caught by the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Ictiobus
Bigmouth buffalo, Ictiobus cyprinellus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cypriniformes
Family:	Catostomidae
Subfamily:	Ictiobinae
Genus:	Ictiobus Rafinesque, 1820
Type species
Catostomus bubalus Rafinesque, 1818
Species
See text

From an angler's point of view, buffalofish were historically not a popular game fish because they are difficult to catch by hook and line (even though they put up a great fight). However, legal changes in the 2010s have quickly made them easy targets of night bowfishing and thus they can now be considered game fish and protective measures may be needed.[2]