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Home/Species/ Yellow Bullhead

Ameiurus natalis

(Lesueur, 1819)

Yellow Bullhead

G5Secure Found in 12 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103271
Element CodeAFCKA06040
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 natalis
Other Common Names
Barbotte jaune (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The 1991 AFS checklist followed J. Lundberg (1989 unpublished abstract, 1992) in removing the bullheads and white catfish from the genus Ictalurus and placing them in the genus Ameiurus (Robins et al. 1991). Some authors have recognized two subspecies, natalis and erebennus; other authors regard them as synonymous.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2011-10-14
Change Date1996-09-19
Edition Date2011-12-26
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Range Extent Comments
Native throughout most of the eastern and central U.S. and adjacent southern Canada. Introduced widely outside 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

This bullhead occurs in shallow, soft-bottomed, weedy parts of clear warm lakes, ponds, reservoirs, or slow-moving streams or canals. It is more tolerant of pollution than are most other ictalurids. Eggs are laid in saucer-shaper depressions beside or beneath banks, logs, or tree roost, or in burrows or under debris on the bottom (Becker 1983).

Reproduction

Spawns in spring and early summer. Eggs hatch in 5-10 days. Parent guards nest and compact school of young until they are about 50 mm long. Probably sexually mature at age of 2-3 yr.
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
New JerseyS5Yes
New MexicoSNANo
NevadaSNANo
VermontS4Yes
New YorkS5Yes
LouisianaS5Yes
Rhode IslandSNANo
IowaS4Yes
FloridaSNRYes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
KentuckyS4Yes
South DakotaS5Yes
North DakotaSUYes
MississippiS5Yes
District of ColumbiaS4Yes
GeorgiaS5Yes
DelawareS3Yes
KansasS5Yes
OklahomaSNRYes
Navajo NationSNANo
AlabamaS5Yes
North CarolinaS5Yes
New HampshireSNANo
MichiganS5Yes
IllinoisS5Yes
WashingtonSNANo
ConnecticutSNANo
WisconsinS5Yes
MinnesotaSNRYes
ArizonaSNANo
TexasS5Yes
WyomingSNANo
South CarolinaS5Yes
IdahoSNANo
OregonSNANo
ArkansasS4Yes
MarylandS5Yes
OhioS5Yes
West VirginiaS5Yes
UtahSNANo
TennesseeS5Yes
VirginiaS5Yes
IndianaS5Yes
NebraskaS4Yes
MissouriSNRYes
MontanaSNANo
MassachusettsSNANo
CanadaN4
ProvinceRankNative
QuebecS3Yes
British ColumbiaSNANo
OntarioS4Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
No known threats———

—

Roadless Areas (12)
Arkansas (1)
AreaForestAcres
East ForkOzark-St. Francis National Forest13,037
Florida (2)
AreaForestAcres
Long BayApalachicola National Forest5,726
PinhookOsceola National Forest15,405
Louisiana (1)
AreaForestAcres
Saline Bayou W & S River CorridorKisatchie National Forest5,355
Mississippi (1)
AreaForestAcres
Sandy Creek Rare Ii AreaHomochitto National Forest2,620
Montana (1)
AreaForestAcres
North SiegelLolo National Forest9,208
New Mexico (1)
AreaForestAcres
Candian RiverCibola National Forest7,149
North Carolina (2)
AreaForestAcres
Catfish Lake NorthCroatan National Forest11,299
Catfish Lake South - BCroatan National Forest172
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Little Lake CreekNational Forests in Texas596
Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Beards MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,505
West Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
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