Black Bullhead

Description

Identification:

Color
- - The color on the back and upper side varies from dark olive to yellow-brown. Sides are lighter, often shiny green-gold. Body below is yellow to white, and the fins are dusky to black.
Dusky or black chin barbels.
Teeth
- - Lacks strong sawlike teeth on the rear of the pectoral spine but may have small teeth.
Fins
- - The anal fin is comparatively short and rounded with 19-23 rays; the rays at the front of the fin are longer than those at the rear.
  - The edge of the caudal fin is slightly notched in the middle.
  - The caudal and anal fins have pale rays and black membranes.

Size

Average:
- - 1-2 lbs
  - 6-10 inches
State Record
- - 3 lbs 13 oz
  - 18 inches

Native to Canada, U.S.A. and Mexico

Habitat and Location

Habitat:

Often found 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.
It is found in quiet river backwaters, impoundments, ponds, lakes, and slow moving streams typically over soft bottoms consisting of mud and sand.
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.
Adults stay hidden under the cover of vegetation beds during the day but will come out to scour the bottom for food after dark.

Location:

Found in green on the left.
They are also invasive in Europe

Food

They will eat almost anything that can fit into their mouths. Primarily they will eat insects and they eat them as both young and adults. Bullheads eat a variety of aquatic invertebrates such as crayfish, freshwater mussels and snails. They will also eat other fish, fish eggs, and plants.

Predators and Natural Hazards

What eats it?

The young and small adults have been known to be eaten by white bass and sometimes turtles. Humans are the only predator to adults.

Natural Hazards

Human Hazards

Pollution

Invasive Species

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