Black bullhead
| Black butthead | |
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| Scientific classification | |
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| Species: | A. melas
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| Binomial name | |
| Ameiurus melas Rafinesque, 1820
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The black butthead or black butthead catfish (Ameiurus melas) is a species of butthead catfish. Like other butthead catfish, it has the ability to thrive in waters that are low in oxygen, brackish, turbid and/or very warm.[2] It also has barbels located near its mouth, a broad head, spiny fins and no scales. It can be identified from other buttheads as the barbels are black, and it has a tan crescent around the tail. Its caudal fin is truncated (squared off at the corners).[3] Like virtually all catfish, it is nocturnal, preferring to feed at night, although young feed during the day. It generally does not get as large as the channel or blue catfish, with average adult weights are in the 1- to 2-lb range, and almost never as large as 4 lb. It has a typical length of 8-14 in, with the largest specimen being 24 in, making it the largest of the buttheads. It is typically black or dark brown on the dorsal side of its body and yellow or white on the ventral side.[3]
Like most of the buttheads (and even flathead catfish), it has a squared tail fin, which is strikingly different from the forked tail of channel and blue catfish. It is a bottom-rover fish, meaning it is well-adapted for bottom living. It is typically dorsoventrally flattened, and has a slightly humped back.[4] Its color depends on the area where it is taken, but it generally is darker than brown or yellow buttheads. It can be distinguished from a flathead in that the black butthead's lower lip does not protrude past the upper lip. Distinguishing it from the brown butthead is a bit more difficult, depending on the area where it is caught, but a distinguishing detail between the two includes a nearly smooth pectoral spine on the black butthead with the brown being strongly barbed. The anal fin also has a gray base, and the tail also has a pale bar. Also, the brown butthead generally has 21 to 24 soft rays through its anal fin as opposed to the black butthead's 17 to 21. The brown butthead is also typically mottled brown and green on top instead of the darker black. Both the black and brown buttheads can easily be distinguished from the yellow butthead as the yellow butthead has white barbels under its mouth.[5]
Habitat
Black buttheads are found throughout the central United States, often in stagnant or slow-moving waters with soft bottoms. They have been known to congregate in confined spaces, such as lake outlets or under dams. They are very tolerant fish, and are able to live in muddy water, with warmer temperatures and in water with lower levels of oxygen, which reduce competition from other fish.[5] Black buttheads also occur as an invasive species in large parts of Europe.[6]
Diet
They are omnivorous, so will eat almost anything, from grains and other plant matter to insects, dead or living fish, and crustaceans. They have short, pointed, conical teeth, formed in multiple rows called cardiform teeth. Black buttheads have no scales; instead, they have about 100,000 taste receptors placed all over their bodies. Many of these are located on the barbels near their mouths. The receptors help the fish to identify food in their dark habitats. During the winter, black buttheads decrease food intake, and may stop eating altogether. Instead, they bury themselves around the shore line of the lake in debris, with only their gills exposed. This "hibernation" allows them to survive conditions of low oxygen and low temperature.[7]
Reproduction
Black buttheads start to spawn in April and continue through June. The females scoop out a small hole or depression in the lake floor and lay 2000 to 6000 eggs. The males fertilize the eggs, then care for them. When the eggs hatch a week later, both parents watch over the fry for a short while.[3]
Angling
Considered rough fish, black buttheads are seldom caught for sport. Their flesh is pale in color, and has a good flavor, but it may be soft in summer. They are the largest of the buttheads, and are one of several catfish informally referred to as mud catfish. They are not caught often, and usually by accident. They have been introduced in many areas of the US because of their ability to survive (and even thrive) in less than ideal conditions, but they are seldom used in active stocking programs due to their relatively low desirability.[citation needed]
Black buttheads can be caught using similar techniques as for channel or blue catfish, although their small size may require smaller bait and hooks. Like most catfish, they are most active at night, and tend to be less active during the day, bedding under piers or in shady shore areas.
In some areas of little to no fishing pressure, black buttheads have been found to be more aggressive and have been caught while casting and retrieving metal spoon lures.
Defense
At the base of their pectoral and dorsal fins are spines, which they can use as spurs to cut predators.[7]
See also
- Butthead catfish (general)
References
- ^ Template:IUCN
- ^ Black Butthead Detailed Information – Montana Animal Field Guide Archived July 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish/blackbutthead.html
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-03-17. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b Phillips, G.L, Schmid, W.D, & Underhill, J.C. (1991). Fishes of the Minnesota region. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
- ^ Leppakoski, Erkki. Invasive aquatic species of Europe: distribution, impacts, and management. Kluwer Academic Publishers. 1998. The Netherlands. 156-162.
- ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-08-25. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
External links
- "Ameiurus melas". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 18 April 2006.
- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Ameiurus melas". FishBase. November 2005 version.
- Black butthead at Minnesota Department of Natural Resources