Black Bullhead
Ameiurus melas
Description
To 17" (43 cm); 2 3/4 lbs (1.2 kg).
Heavy anteriorly; back olive to black; sides yellow-olive to black;
belly yellowish; body not mottled; fins dusky, membranes darker than
rays; pale bar at base of caudal fin; 4 pairs of barbels, chin
barbels gray-black or spotted. Head large, rounded above; eyes
small; mouth terminal, short, wide. Pectoral fin spine rough, but
without serrations; 17-21 anal fin rays, length of base less than
head length, adipose fin present. Caudal peduncle short, moderately
deep; caudal fin slightly notched.
Habitat
Low gradient sections of streams,
backwaters, lakes, and reservoirs, frequently over silty, soft
mud.
Range
From se. Ontario west to s. Saskatchewan;
c. United States. Widely introduced outside native range.
Discussion
The Black Bullhead is the smallest of
the bullheads, and appears to be more tolerant of turbid, silty,
polluted waters than other bullheads. It feeds on a variety of plant
and animal material taken off the bottom.
