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Ameiurus platycephalus (Girard, 1859)

Image contributors to this species:

Tim Aldridge (2) Fletcher Stone (1) Michael Verdirame (1) Scott Smith (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: Large black blotch at dorsal fin base, flat head (not always on larger individuals), longer anal fin, squared off with more rays. Mottled appearance in some populations. Most often confused with the Snail Bullhead (Ameiurus brunneus). Flat Bullhead's however will have a slightly longer anal fin with more rays.(Aldridge, Tim 2021). Habitat: Adults are usually in slow-water areas of small to large rivers (sometimes large creeks) with soft mud, muck, sand, or rock bottoms covered with organic detritus (Lee et al. 1980, Page and Burr 2011). Younger individuals tend to be in smaller clearer streams (Jenkins and Burkhead 1994). This bullhead also occurs in lakes, ponds, and impoundments. Diet: Feeds on aquatic insects, small fishes, and snails. Etymology: The specific name platycephalpus: Flat (broad or wide) head.

Common Name:

Flat bullhead

Synonyms:

Pimelodus platycephalus, Ictalurus platycephalus

Family:

Ictaluridae

Distribution:

North America: Atlantic Piedmont and Coastal Plain from Roanoke River drainage in Virginia, USA to Altamaha River drainage in Georgia, USA.

Size:

25.0cm. (10ins).

Temp:

18-25°C (63-77°F)

p.H.

6.5-7.5.

IUCN Red List

This species is listed as Least Concern in view of the fairly large range extent and because it is probably not declining fast enough to qualify for any of the threatened categories (needs updating IUCN 2013).

Reference:

Aldridge, Tim. pers. comm. 2021.
Ameiurus platycephalus (Girard, 1859) Observed in United States of America by Fletcher Stone. GBIF.org
Ameiurus platycephalus (Girard, 1859) Observed in United States of America by Michael Verdirame. GBIF.org
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2019. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 04/2019 ).
Hardman, M. and L.M. Page, 2003. Phylogenetic relationships among bullhead catfishes of the genus Ameiurus (Siluriformes: Ictaluridae). Copeia 2003(1):20-33.
NatureServe 2013. Ameiurus platycephalus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013.

Family: Ictaluridae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Ameiurus platycephalus

Ameiurus platycephalus

Ameiurus platycephalus
Young Harris College, North Georgia

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