Black bullhead

The black bullhead (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 fin is truncate (squared off at the corners). Like virtually all catfish, it is nocturnal, preferring to feed at night, although young will feed during the day. It generally does not get as large as the channel or blue catfish; with average adult weights are in the one to two-pound range, and almost never as large as four pounds. It has an average length of 8-14 inches, with the largest specimen being 24 inches, making it the largest of the bullheads. It is typically black or dark brown on the dorsal side of its body and yellow or white on the ventral side.