The Virtual Aquarium of Virginia Tech--Catfish

Black Bullhead, Ameiurus melas

 
Physical Description: 
ï¿½	Robust body, compressed posteriorly
ï¿½	Chin barbels dark
ï¿½	Sharp dorsal and pectoral spines
ï¿½	Depressed head, slightly inferior mouth
ï¿½	Tail fin not forked
ï¿½	Rounded anal fin
ï¿½	Gray, brown, or black body, mottled coloring on the body 
ï¿½	Fins brown or black

Similar species: 
ï¿½	Brown Bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus)
ï¿½	White catfish (Ameiurus catus)
ï¿½	Flat bullhead (Ameiurus platycephalus)
ï¿½	Snail bullhead (Ameiurus brunneus)

Mean body size:
ï¿½	Adults are 140-300 mm standard length 

Habitat:
ï¿½	Warm backwaters, pools, creeks, streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and reservoirs
ï¿½	Tolerates high temperature, high turbidity, and low oxygen

Distribution in VA:
ï¿½	Native to the Big Sandy
ï¿½	Introduced into the New and Roanoke drainages, and North Fork Holston River

Food Habits:  
ï¿½	Microcrustaceans, plants, invertebrates, and fish

Reproductive Habits: 
ï¿½	Mature at age 2 or 3
ï¿½	Spawning probably occurs in late May and June at 21-30ï¿½C
ï¿½	Spawn over sand in backwaters
ï¿½	Fecundity is 2,550-3,850 eggs per female
ï¿½	Hybridizes naturally with brown bullhead

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: 
ï¿½	Hard to distinguish from the brown bullhead (A. nebulosus)
ï¿½	Good to eat, but rarely caught

References:       

Jenkins, R.E and N.M. Burkhead. 1993. Freshwater Fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.

If you are seeking more information for the above species click on the VAFWIS logo (The Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service):