Ictaluridae

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Ictaluridae
Blue catfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Ictaluridae
Genera

Ameiurus, bullhead
Astephus (extinct)
Ictalurus, channel
Notorus, mad tom
Prietella
Pylodictis
Satan
Trogloglanis

The Ictaluridae, sometimes called Ictalurids, are a family of catfish native to North America, where they are important food fish and sometimes as a sport fish. They include fish commonly known as bullheads, madtoms, channel catfish, and blue catfish.

[edit] Characteristics

Ictalurids originate from North America from southern Canada to Guatemala. Both bullheads and madtoms tend to be found in small streams and ponds, but are also known in larger bodies of water. Channel catfish, bullheads and madtoms are "bottom feeders" with widely varied diets that include scavenging.

As with other species of catfish, these species have barbels (commonly referred to as "whiskers" as applied to catfish) and the ability to inflict painful stings with poison embedded in fins. Their skin is naked. The genera Trogoglanis, Satan, and Prietella include four species of blind catfishes.

One of the largest species is the blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, specimens of which have been found to weigh over 50 kg. The maximum length is 1.6 m in the blue catfish. The bullheads, on the other hand, are small catfish which at maturity often weigh less than half a kg, while the madtoms (genus Noturus) are in general much smaller.

[edit] Relationship to humans

The North American catfish has acquired an association with American Southern folklore which exceeds its place as a mere food fish. The image of cane pole fishing for catfish at a proverbial lazy stream has become a stand-by of southern Americana. Even today the catfish fishing culture features use of arcane "stink baits" and elaborate night-fishing techniques, giving catfish fishing a uniqueness in approach and emphasis as contrasted with the technology-oriented realms of fishing such as bass fishing.

In some areas, the bullhead is seen as a desirable fishing quarry, for its fighting qualities exceed its size. In other areas, it is seen as a nuisance fish due to its efficient bait-stealing qualities.

[edit] References

  • "Ictaluridae". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Mar 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
  • Nelson, Joseph S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0471250317
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