Ameiurus nebulosus
(Lesueur, 1819)
Brown Bullhead
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Jason Hill, CC BY 4.0
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103081
Element CodeAFCKA06050
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderSiluriformes
FamilyIctaluridae
GenusAmeiurus
Synonyms
Ictalurus nebulosus
Other Common Names
Barbotte brune (FR)
Concept Reference
Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20. 183 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
The 1991 AFS checklist followed J. Lundberg (1989 unpublished abstract, 1992) in removing the bullheads and white catfish from the genus Ictalurus and placing them in the genus Ameiurus (Robins et al. 1991). Two subspecies sometimes are recognized, northern nebulosus and southern marmoratus.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2015-08-17
Change Date1996-09-19
Edition Date2011-10-15
Edition AuthorsHammerson
Range Extent200,000 to >2,500,000 square km (about 80,000 to >1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Large range extent in central and eastern North america; large population size;stable or increasing trend; no major threats.
Range Extent Comments
This bullhead is native in most of the eastern United States and adjacent southern Canada, west to southeastern Saskatchewan, Nebraska, and Louisiana; it is common in the Northeast and on the Atlantic and Gulf slopes, sporadic elsewhere (Page and Burr 2011). It is widely introduced and established outside the native range.
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a large number of occurrences (subpopulations).
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats are known.
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Habitat includes ponds, lakes, sluggish creeks and small to large rivers, sloughs, backwaters, and reservoirs. Usually this bullhead occurs in vegetated shallows over sand, rock, mud, or silt (most often soft substrates), in clear to turbid water (Lee et al. 1980, Page and Burr 2011). It may burrow into soft bottoms and become inactive in winter. Eggs are laid in open excavations in sand, gravel, or (rarely) mud, often in shelter of logs, rocks, or vegetation, or in holes, burrows, or debris. Nest made by one or both sexes usually are around shores or in coves or creek mouths.
Ecology
Moves widely in large lakes, as much as 26 km from point of release (Moyle 1976).
Reproduction
Spawns in late spring and summer. Eggs hatch in 6-9 days. Parents stay with eggs and hatchlings. Usually first breed in third year (Becker 1983, Moyle 1976).
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLAND
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | S5 | Yes |
| Idaho | SNA | No |
| West Virginia | S2 | Yes |
| California | SNA | No |
| Oklahoma | SH | Yes |
| Delaware | S5 | Yes |
| New York | S5 | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | S5 | Yes |
| Arkansas | S2 | Yes |
| Missouri | S3 | Yes |
| Colorado | SNA | No |
| District of Columbia | S5 | Yes |
| Alabama | S5 | Yes |
| Tennessee | S3 | Yes |
| New Mexico | SNA | No |
| New Hampshire | S5 | Yes |
| Maine | S5 | Yes |
| Indiana | S4 | Yes |
| Texas | SNA | No |
| Kentucky | S4 | Yes |
| North Carolina | S5 | Yes |
| Mississippi | S4 | Yes |
| Massachusetts | S5 | Yes |
| Wisconsin | S5 | Yes |
| South Dakota | SU | Yes |
| Nebraska | SNA | No |
| Ohio | S5 | Yes |
| Iowa | S3 | Yes |
| Michigan | S2 | Yes |
| North Dakota | SNR | Yes |
| Louisiana | SNA | Yes |
| South Carolina | S5 | Yes |
| Florida | SNR | Yes |
| Nevada | SNA | No |
| Kansas | SNA | No |
| Rhode Island | S5 | Yes |
| Georgia | S5 | Yes |
| New Jersey | S5 | Yes |
| Connecticut | S5 | Yes |
| Arizona | SNA | No |
| Illinois | S3 | Yes |
| Maryland | S5 | Yes |
| Minnesota | SNR | Yes |
| Vermont | S5 | Yes |
| Washington | SNA | No |
| Oregon | SNA | No |
CanadaN5
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec | S5 | Yes |
| New Brunswick | S5 | Yes |
| Nova Scotia | S5 | Yes |
| Prince Edward Island | SNA | No |
| Saskatchewan | S3 | Yes |
| Ontario | S5 | Yes |
| British Columbia | SNA | No |
| Manitoba | S5 | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| No known threats | — | — | — |
Roadless Areas (12)
California (4)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Castle Peak | Tahoe National Forest | 14,974 |
| City Creek | San Bernardino National Forest | 9,997 |
| Deep Creek | San Bernardino National Forest | 23,869 |
| Raymond Peak | Stanislaus National Forest | 3,646 |
Montana (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Buckhorn Ridge (MT) | Kootenai National Forest | 34,716 |
New Hampshire (5)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Carr Mountain | White Mountain National Forest | 17,110 |
| Jobildunk | White Mountain National Forest | 3,660 |
| Mt. Wolf - Gordon Pond | White Mountain National Forest | 11,846 |
| Pemigewasset Ext | White Mountain National Forest | 15,840 |
| Sandwich Range | White Mountain National Forest | 16,797 |
Oregon (2)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Tahkenitch | Siuslaw National Forest | 5,799 |
| W. Boundary | Winema National Forest | 2,345 |
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