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Ictalurus punctatus

(graceful catfish)

Overview

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Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Bulgarian:

Kanalen som

Common Names in Czech:

Sumecek Teckovan, Sumecek teckovaný

Common Names in Danish:

Kanalmalle, Plettet Dv, Plettet dværgmalle

Common Names in Dutch:

Channel katvis, Gestippelde Meerval

Common Names in English:

Catfish, channel catfish, graceful catfish

Common Names in Estonian:

Kanalis, Pilkkupiikkimonni

Common Names in Finnish:

Pilkkupiikkimonni

Common Names in French:

Barbue D'am, Barbue d'Amérique, Barbue De Rivi, barbue de rivière, barbue de rivière, Poisson-Chat Tachet, Poisson-chat tacheté, Silure Tachet, Silure tacheté

Common Names in German:

Get, Getüpfelter Gabelwels

Common Names in Italian:

Pesce gatto puntado, Pesce gatto punteggiato

Common Names in Mandarin Chinese:

斑真鮰(斑点叉尾鮰)(引进), 斑真鮰(斑點叉尾鮰)(引進)

Common Names in Portuguese:

Peixe-gato pontuado

Common Names in Rumanian:

Somn de canal, Somn patat

Common Names in Russian:

Pyatnistyi, канальный сомик

Common Names in Spanish:

Azul, Bagre de canal, Barb, Coto punteado

Common Names in Swedish:

Prickig Dv, Prickig dvärgmal

Description

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Physical Description

Species Ictalurus punctatus

Body: Mouth and snout: Slightly subterminal , patches of numerous fine teeth on jaws . 8 obvious barbels (4 pairs; 2 pair on chin, 1 pair on side of upper jaw (near corner of mouth), 1 pair on top of snout). Body patterning, color, and scales : Spotted as juveniles and small adults ; spots fade with size and age yielding a solid color as large adults. Color bluish gray or bluish olive, with irregular small black spots on sides. Belly white. Fins and barbels moderately to darkly pigmented . No scales. Body shape and size: Body dorsal-ventrally flattened with a tapered head ; in cross section approximately oval (with a long horizontal axis) to round with a flattened ventral surface. Typically 400-600 mm (16-24 in) TL ; maximum in Wisconsin about 850 mm (34 in).

Fins: Tail, dorsal and other fins: Forked tail. Single dorsal with 1 stout spine and 6-7 rays, attached by membrane . Pelvic fins abdominal . Adipose fin present. Anal fin with 24-27 rays (including rudimentary rays).

Distinguishing characteristics: The channel catfish can be distinguished by itsfree , flaplike adipose fin, by its deeply forked tail, in having its upper jaw extend slightly beyond the lower, in not having the tooth patch in the roof of its upper jaw with lateral backward extensions , and having its anal fin base longer than their post-orbital distance . See also similar species information.

Breeding adults: Similar to non-breeders, although males may be more bluish and have a swollen area above and behind eyes.

Juveniles: Similar to adults, with pronounced spots and a generally lighter color.

Size/Age/Growth

May live as long as 16 years in the wild, 5 years in captivity.

Habitat

Inhabit rivers and streams and prefers clean, well oxygenated water [1], but also in ponds and reservoirs [2].

Biome: Marine .

Biology

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Diet

Feed primarily on small fish, crustaceans (e.g. crayfish), clams and snails; also feeds on aquatic insects and small mammals (Ref. 44091).

Taxonomy

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Synonyms

Ameirus nebulosus (Lesueur • Ameiurus vulgaris (Thompson • Amiurus nebulosus (Lesueur • Amiurus vulgaris (Thompson • Ictalurus nebulosus (Lesueur • Ictalurus nebulosus marmoratus (Holbrook • Ictalurus nebulosus nebulosus (Lesueur • Ictalurus nebulosus pannonicus Harka & Pinter • Ictalurus punctatusIctalurus punctatus Rafinesque • Pimelodus atrarius Dekay • Pimelodus felis Agassiz • Pimelodus marmoratus Holbrook • Pimelodus nebulosus Lesueur • Pimelodus vulgaris Thompson • Silurus coenosus Richardson • Silurus punctatus Rafinesque, 1818

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Last scrutiny: Data last modified by FishBase 26-Apr-1994

Similar Species

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Fish Name Anal Fin Color Pattern Head Similarity Index Comments Channel Catfish 24-27, edge rounded Spotted as juveniles, small adults; solid as large adults Relatively shallow, rounded profile; eye relatively large and dorsal N/A Flathead Catfish 14-16, edge rounded light brown to yellow, mottled with dark brown or black (mottling tendingt to disappear in adults) Broadly flattened, oval in cross-section, with short but wide horizontal mouth Moderately similar Blue Catfish 30-36, edge straight Solid at all ages Steep, straight or slightly concave profile; eye smaller and more lateral Very similar Not native to WI, but has been stocked in the past - not established

Members of the genus Ictalurus

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 16 species and subspecies in this genus:

I. australis (Bagre Del Panuco) · I. balsanus (Bagre De Yaqui) · I. catus (White Bullhead) · I. dugesi (Lerma Catfish) · I. dugesii (Lerma Catfish) · I. furcatus (Blue Catfish) · I. lupus (Headwater Catfish) · I. melas (Black Bullhead) · I. meriodionalis (Gorgonian Tonguefish) · I. mexicanus (Bagre De Rio Verde) · I. natalis (Yellow Bullhead) · I. nebulosus (Brown Bullhead) · I. ochoterenai (Chapala Catfish) · I. platycephalus (Great Lakes Longear) · I. pricei (Bagre De Yaqui) · I. punctatus (Graceful Catfish)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 02, 2008:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Frimodt, C. (1995). Multilingual illustrated guide to the world's commercial coldwater fish. Fishing News Books, Osney Mead, Oxford, England. 215 p. [back]
  2. Yamamoto, M.N. and A.W. Tagawa (2000). Hawai'i's native and exotic freshwater animals. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu, Hawaii. 200 p. [back]
Last Revised: 7/14/2012