White bullhead

The white bullhead (Ameiurus catus), also known as the white catfish, is a member of the family Ictaluridae of the order Siluriformes.

White bullhead
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Ictaluridae
Genus: Ameiurus
Species:
A. catus
Binomial name
Ameiurus catus
(Linnaeus, 1758) [1]
Synonyms
  • Silurus catus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Ictalurus catus (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Pimelodus catus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Distribution

Originally native to the coastal river systems of the Eastern United States, the catfish spread to other parts of the U.S.

Description

Ameiurus catus has a head with eight barbels, two nasal, two maxillary and four chin. It is scaleless. It has a spine on the anterior edge of its dorsal and pectoral fins. It usually has six dorsal soft rays. It does not have palatine teeth. It typically weighs between 0.5 and 2.0 pounds (0.23 and 0.91 kg), however, it is possible to attain weights upwards of 10 pounds (4.5kg).

Habitat

Ameiurus catus is found throughout the U.S. It prefers sluggish, mud-bottom pools and backwaters of rivers and streams, and does well in lakes and large impediments.[2]

Behavior

Feeding

White catfish feed mostly on the bottom, where they eat other fish and aquatic insects. They feed most actively at dusk and through the night[3] mostly on bottom-dwelling insects, worms, amphipods, and other small invertebrates.

Reproduction

Reproduction occurs from April to July when the water temperature ranges between 65 and 75 °F. A gelatinous mass of eggs is deposited in a cavity created by hollow logs or undercut banks. The male guards the nest and incubates the eggs by continually fanning fresh water over them.[2]

See also

References
  1. "Ameiurus catus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  2. http://www.hrla.com/NCFish/white-catfish.htm
  3. http://www.lake-berryessa.com/Wildlife.html


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