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Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque, 1820)

Black bullhead
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Ameiurus melas
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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 Tên thường gặp | Các synonym ( Các tên trùng) | Catalog of Fishes(Giống, Các loài) | 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 Sinh thái học

; Nước ngọt gần đáy; pH range: 6.5 - 8.0; dH range: 4 - 25; sống cả ở nước ngọt và nuớc mặn (Ref. 51243); Mức độ sâu 10 - ? m.   Temperate; 8°C - 30°C (Ref. 2059); 52°N - 26°N

Sự phân bố Các nước | Các khu vực của FAO | Các hệ sinh thái | Những lần xuất hiện | Point map | Những chỉ dẫn | 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)

Bộ gần gũi / Khối lượng (Trọng lượng) / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 66.0 cm TL con đực/không giới tính; (Ref. 40637); common length : 26.6 cm TL con đực/không giới tính; (Ref. 12193); Khối lượng cực đại được công bố: 3.6 kg (Ref. 4699); Tuổi cực đại được báo cáo: 10 các năm (Ref. 12193)

Sinh học     Tự điển (thí dụ 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 | Sự tái sinh sản | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Ấu trùng

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 | Các tài liệu tham khảo | Người điều phối | Người cộng tác

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)

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