- Brown bullhead
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Brown bullhead 
Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Siluriformes Family: Ictaluridae Genus: Ameiurus Species: A. nebulosus Binomial name Ameiurus nebulosus
Lesueur, 1819Synonyms Ictalurus nebulosus (Lesueur, 1819)
Pimelodus nebulosus Lesueur, 1819The brown bullhead, Ameiurus nebulosus, is a fish of the Ictaluridae family that is widely distributed in North America. It is a species of bullhead catfish and is similar to the black bullhead (Ameiurus melas) and yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis). It was originally described as Pimelodus nebulosus by Charles Alexandre Lesueur in 1819, and is also referred to as Ictalurus nebulosus.
The brown bullhead is also widely known as the "mud pout", "horned pout" or "hornpout" or simply "mud cat", along with the other bullhead species.
The brown bullhead is important as a clan symbol of the Ojibwe group of Native Americans. In their tradition, the bullhead or "wawaazisii" is one of six beings that came out of the sea to form the original clans.[1]
Contents
Habitat
The brown bullhead thrives in a variety of habitats, including lakes and ponds with low oxygen and/or muddy conditions. In many areas of the United States, Brown Bullheads are opportunistic bottom feeders. They eat insects, leeches, snails, fish, clams, and many plants. They are also known to eat corn, which can be used as bait. Similar to other catfish, they spawn only after the temperature of the water has reached 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 °C) (cooler in the northern US) in June and July.
Brown bullhead, Ameiurus nebulosus
Angling
When caught in very clear water when the flesh is firm and reddish to pinkish, the hornpout is quite edible and delicious. Nevertheless, its genial cousins such as the channel catfish and the blue catfish are better known for their consumption qualities. In most areas, they will not exceed two pounds in weight, with a current IGFA world's record of 7 lb 6oz , by Glenn Collacuro, Lake Mahopac NY, August 1st, 2009.[2].
Invasive species
The fish has been introduced into many European countries, as well as Chile, Puerto Rico and New Zealand.[3]
See also
- Bullhead catfish (general)
- Rough fish
References
- ^ http://www.glifwc.org/pub/fall99/clansystem.htm
- ^ IGFA Brown Bullhead Records
- ^ "Ictalurus nebulosus". ISSG. 11 April 2006. http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=612&fr=1&sts=sss&lang=EN. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
External links
- Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Ameiurus nebulosus" in FishBase. February 2007 version.
- Ameiurus nebulosus, German language; originally published in: Datz-Aquarienpraxis 11/2004, S. 10f.
Categories:- Fish of North America
- Ameiurus
- Invasive fish species
- Non-indigenous fish species in Ukraine
- Animals described in 1819
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