Wildlife and Wildflowers of Texas - Fish

The freckled madtom (Noturus nocturnus) a species of freshwater madtom (catfish) found in the eastern United States. The freckled madtom is a benthic feeder mostly of invertebrates and usually inhabits waters that are medium to large in size, living mostly in riffle areas that have mostly clear waters and rocky bottoms. Its spawning season occurs from spring to early summer in riffle areas, and sexual maturation occurs after two years. less ↑

The black bullhead or black bullhead catfish (Ameiurus melas) is a species of bullhead catfish. Like other bullhead catfish, it has the ability to thrive in waters that are low in oxygen, brackish, turbid and/or very warm. It also has barbels located near its mouth, a broad head, spiny fins and no scales. It can be identified from other bullheads as the barbels are black, and it has a tan crescent around the tail. Its caudal... less ↑

The 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. less ↑

The flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris), also called by several names including mudcat, or shovelhead cat, is a large species of North American freshwater catfish. It is the only species of the genus Pylodictis. Ranging from the lower Great Lakes region to northern Mexico, they have been widely introduced and are an invasive species in some areas. The closest living relative of the flathead is the widemouth blindcat, Satan eurystomus. less ↑

The blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is the largest species of North American catfish, reaching a length of 165 cm (65 in) and a weight of 68 kg (150 lb). The average length is about 25–46 in (64–117 cm). The fish can live to 20 years. The native distribution of blue catfish is primarily in the Mississippi River drainage, including the Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Arkansas Rivers, and the Rio Grande, and south along the Gulf Coast to Belize and Guatemala. .... less ↑

Ictalurus lupus (the bagre lobo or headwater catfish) is a species of catfish in the family Ictaluridae. It resembles the closely related channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), but is smaller, lacks spots, and has a caudal fin with a shallower fork and grows to a length of 48 centimetres (19 in) TL. It is found in Northeastern Mexico and the Southwestern United States. less ↑

Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is North America's most numerous catfish species. It is the official fish of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Tennessee, and is informally referred to as a "channel cat". In the United States, they are the most fished catfish species with approximately 8 million anglers targeting them per year. The popularity of channel catfish for food has contributed to the rapid expansion of aquaculture of this species in the United States. less ↑

This little-known denizen of the Edwards Aquifer can be found in only five artesian wells penetrating the deepest parts of the San Antonio Pool of the Edwards Aquifer in and near San Antonio. Specimens from its humanly inaccessible habitat have come from deep city water wells near the area of the aquifer where saline water mixes with fresh water from the hill country. Shockingly, this species lacks any eyes, pigmentation, swim bladder, and has a sucker mouth. less ↑