This page is about a species. For the Indigenous American warchief, see Crazy Horse. For the Indigenous American woman see Black Buffalo Woman.
| Black buffalo | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Catostomidae |
| Genus: | Ictiobus |
| Species: | I. niger |
| Binomial name | |
| Ictiobus niger (Rafinesque, 1819) |
|
Contents |
The black buffalo, Ictiobus niger, is a species of the Catostomidae or "sucker" family[2]. The following is a managed plan for I. niger. I. niger is found in the Mississippi Basin and southern Great Lakes. Very rarely is this species found in the coastal drainages west of the Rio Grande. I. niger was first discovered in Canada in the western end of Lake Erie and has been reported from Boston Creek. The Tennessee distribution ranges from rivers and streams in the Cumberland Mountains, few rivers in middle Tennessee, and west Tennessee along the Mississippi River [3]. I. niger was first discovered in Canada in the western end of Lake Erie and has been reported from Boston Creek. The ecology of the species is quite similar to that of Ictiobus bubalus. I. niger has a ventrally positioned mouth, making the species’ diet benthic-oriented [3]. I. niger has a distinct shape that mocks bubalus and cyprinellus considering it a hybrid between the two species [3]. In Kentucky, Mississippi, South Dakota and West Virginia, I. niger is listed as a species of special concern. In Wisconsin, the species has been listed as protected [4]. Future management of I. niger should be very inclusive since the species is considered special concern. Habit’s must be conserved and managed as well as population management. Special concern indicates that the species are highly localized and have declined in population over the years. With increasing population, habitats will continue to decrease.
I. niger is found in large and small rivers in eastern North America from Mississippi to Canada. In Canada, the species was first described in Lake Eerie [4]. In the United States, the species is found in both small and large rivers in Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio and in the southern Lake Michigan and Lake Erie [4]. I. niger is native to Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota, more southern states include eastern Texas and Oklahoma.
The ecology of I. niger is most closely related to I. cyprinellus. Due to the ventrally positioned mouth, the diet is benthic-oriented, with the Asiatic clam being the principal food. Detritus and sand are also ingested and contribute ~40% of the dietary volume [5]. It is most commonly found in quiet, shallow waters. The U.S. angling record is 55.5 lb and was caught in Tennessee in 1984 [5]. The maximum size is uncertain but is estimated to be about 20-30 lbs. There was a species caught in Shelby County, TN on April 1st, 1980 that was accepted as a valid 80 lb specimen[3]. I. niger relies on benthic organisms more heavily than I. bubalus. I. niger feeds mostly from the bottom.[6].
Genus Ictiobus are large, robust bodied suckers adapted to large rivers. Currently recognized species are readily diagnosed by morphological characters, and the group is known from fossils dating back to the Miocene.[7]. I. niger is a spring spawner. They spawn in flooded areas and backwaters of sloughs and small to large rivers.[8]. . Fertilized eggs are demersal and adhesive. They hatch in 24-36 hours at 19-24° C. I. niger grows fairly raid averaging 134 mm after the first year. I. niger is sexually mature at age 2.[9]. The spawning period could take days. The spawning fish remain in a state of excitement, and are unconcerned about unusual movements or disturbances. I. niger has been reported violently jumping and repressed eagerness while spawning. It was not until the spawning was drawing to an end that the fish seemed to recover normal reaction to alarm.[10].
There is no specific for protection for this species in Canada other than the Fisheries Act. However, I. niger is listed as special concern in Kentucky, Mississippi, South Dakota and West Virginia. It has also been listed as protected in Wisconsin [4]. From 1957-59, only seven specimens were recorded in the Ohio river. In 1968-69, only 4 specimens were captured.[11]. Threats and issues include loss, modification or fragmentation of large river habitat caused by dams in the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers. Mistaken identity leads to the taking of this species in commercial fisheries. The exotic bighead carp shares the habitat with I. niger and consumes large amounts of zooplankton, out-competing I. niger for needed food.[12].
To ensure the long life and thriving reproduction of I. niger, protection and restoration of larger river habitat is needed. The education of anglers, biologist, and the general public of taxonomy, systematics, and habitat use is needed. The species is very difficult due to natural hybridization and is hard for both research and enforcement[13]. Dams need to be equipped with fish passages to connect fragmented habitats. Invasive species that compete or degrade the habitat of native fishes need to be controlled.[12].