Flathead catfish
Flathead catfish are prominent freshwater fish native to North America, recognized for their distinctive flat heads and robust size. They can grow to impressive weights, with the largest individuals reaching up to 130 pounds and measuring as long as 60 inches. Typically, flathead catfish weigh between 2 and 50 pounds, showcasing a wide range in size. These fish possess barbels, or whisker-like structures, which aid in navigation and hunting in their aquatic environments. Primarily carnivorous, flathead catfish prefer to hunt smaller fish and often venture into shallower waters for this purpose.
These catfish inhabit large, slow-moving rivers and are commonly found in the Mississippi River, where they are sought after by fishermen. The breeding season varies by region, with females able to lay up to 100,000 eggs that are fertilized by males. Once hatched, the young fish, known as fry, are protected by the male parent for several days. With a life span ranging from 5 to 22 years, flathead catfish are a significant species both ecologically and economically within their habitats.
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Flathead catfish
Flathead catfish are large members of the only catfish family to originate in North America. Flathead catfish appear just as their name suggests, with a flat head.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Ictaluridae
Genus: Pylodictis
Species: Olivaris
The largest flathead catfish weigh up to 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and reach 60 inches (155 centimeters). The average flathead catfish weighs between 2 and 50 pounds (1 to 22 kilograms) and measures 15 to 45 inches (38 to 115 centimeters). Its most identifiable feature is its long, flat, wide heads, which gives animal the name flathead. Like other catfish, flathead catfish have barbels, or whiskers. They have one long barbel on each corner of their lips and four smaller barbels on their chins.
Flathead catfish breathe through the gills on the sides of their bodies. Unlike human lungs that process oxygen from the air, flathead catfish must breathe oxygen from the water. They do this by taking water into their mouths, keeping the oxygen they need, and filtering the waste chemicals out through their gills.
Like blue catfish, flathead catfish inhabit the large, slow-moving rivers of the United States. They are caught by fishermen in the Mississippi River and sold in fish markets in the lower Mississippi region.
Flathead catfish swim through the water by moving their fins. Their caudal, or tail, fins move from side to side, propelling them through the water, while their dorsal and anal, or back and belly, fins work to keep them balanced in the water. Its dorsal fin has one spine with six rays, and its anal fin has 14 to 17 rays. Flathead catfish also use their pairs of pectoral and pelvic, or side and upper belly, fins to paddle as they swim.
Flathead catfish are carnivorous, which means they eat only meat. Usually, flathead catfish swim into the shallower parts of the water to catch their prey.
The breeding season depends on the location of the fish. In Texas, flathead catfish mate in May, but in Virginia, they mate in June and July. Females lay as many as 100,000 eggs in a yellow mass, and then males fertilize them. This is known as spawning. As the eggs incubate, or develop, the parents wait nearby. When the fry, or young fish, hatch 6 to 9 days later, the male protects them for several days. Males reach maturity at age three or four and females can reproduce at age four or five.
Flathead catfish have a life span of 5 to 22 years.
Bibliography
Brodd, Nicholas. "Pylodictis Olivaris." Animal Diversity Web, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Pylodictis‗olivaris. Accessed 5 Apr. 2024.
"Pylodictis Olivaris." Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, invasions.si.edu/nemesis/species‗summary/164029. Accessed 5 Apr. 2024.