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Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque, 1820)

Black bullhead
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Ameiurus melas
Picture by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver


United States (contiguous states) country information

Common names: Black bullhead, Bullhead, Catfish
Occurrence: native
Salinity: freshwater
Abundance: abundant (always seen in some numbers) | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: live export: yes;
Comments: Recorded from the central North America east of the Rocky Mountains and west of the Appalachians (Ref. 10294). A popular fish sold in live fish markets. Found in 3 out of 6 live fish markets near the Lakes Erie and Ontario (Ref. 53249). Also Ref. 276, 1998.
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html
National Fisheries Authority: http://www.nmfs.gov
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Cross, J.N., 1985
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Classification / Names Populärnamn | synonymer | Catalog of Fishes(Släkte, Arter) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

> Siluriformes (Catfishes) > Ictaluridae (North American freshwater catfishes)
Etymology: Ameiurus: Greek, a = without + Greek, meiouros, -os, -on = without tail (Ref. 45335);  melas: Ameiurus (Greek) meaning privative curtailed (referring to the caudal fin lacking a notch); melas for black (Ref. 79012).
  More on author: Rafinesque.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ekologi

; sötvatten bottenlevande; pH range: 6.5 - 8.0; dH range: 4 - 25; amfidrom (Ref. 51243); djupintervall 10 - ? m.   Temperate; 8°C - 30°C (Ref. 2059); 52°N - 26°N

Utbredning Länder | FAO områden | Ekosystem | Förekomster | Point map | Utplanteringar | Faunafri

North America: Great Lakes to northern Mexico. Confusion over the taxonomic status of this species together with Ameiurus nebulosus resulted in more doubts as to which of the two is present in some countries. In Europe it forms dense stunted populations which makes it unpopular. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction (Ref. 1739). In Europe, self-sustaining populations recorded from Ebro and Tagus drainages (Iberian Peninsula), most drainages of France, locally in Italy, the Netherlands and Germany; distribution could be wider (Ref. 59043)

Size / Vikt / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 66.0 cm TL hane/ej könsbestämd; (Ref. 40637); common length : 26.6 cm TL hane/ej könsbestämd; (Ref. 12193); publicerad maxvikt: 3.6 kg (Ref. 4699); rapporterad maxålder: 10 år (Ref. 12193)

Biologi     Ordlista (t.ex. epibenthic)

Inhabits pools, backwaters, and sluggish current over soft substrates in creeks and small to large rivers; impoundments, oxbows, and ponds. Nocturnal feeder, young consume immature insects, leeches, and crustaceans while adults also feed on clams, snails, plant material, and fishes (Ref. 1998, 9669, 10294). Edible (Ref. 1998). Are susceptible of being caught, where they are abundant, with baited lines intended for other species. Is considered a nuisance (Ref. 30578). Often misidentified as A. nebulosus (Ref. 59043).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproduktion | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larver

The female prepares the nest by clearing debris, gravel and silt found on the bottom. Before spawning, the pair engages in butting and in sliding its barbels over the body of the other. The female releases her eggs after the male wraps his caudal fin around the head of the female. The pair can spawn up to five times in an hour. In between spawning, the female fans the eggs. Both male and female guards and fans the eggs.

Main reference Upload your references | referenser | Koordinator | Medarbetare

Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p. (Ref. 5723)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

  Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 14 October 2011

CITES (Ref. 128078)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Potential pest




Human uses

Fiskeri: kommersiell; Vattenbruk: kommersiell; sportfisk: ja
FAO(Aquaculture systems: produktion; ; publication : search) | FishSource |

Ytterligare information

Trophic ecology
Födoslag
Diet compositions
Food consumptions
Food rations
Predatorer
Ecology
Ekologi
Home ranges
Population dynamics
Growths
Max. ages / sizes
Length-weight rel.
Length-length rel.
Length-frequencies
Mass conversions
Recruitments
Abundances
Life cycle
Reproduktion
Maturities
Fecundities
Spawnings
Spawning aggregations
Egg(s)
Egg developments
Larver
Larvdynamik
Anatomy
Gill areas
Hjärnstorlek
Otoliths
Physiology
Body compositions
Nutrients
Oxygen consumptions
Swimming type
Swimming speeds
Visual pigment(s)
Fiskljud
Diseases / Parasites
Toxicities (LC50s)
Genetics
Genetik
Electrophoreses
Heritabilities
Human related
Aquaculture systems
Vattenbruksprofiler
Avelslinjer
Ciguatera cases
Stamps, coins, misc.
Outreach
Medarbetare
References
referenser

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