Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque, 1818)

Channel catfish

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Siluriformes \| Ictaluridae
Synonyms	Silurus punctatus, ... more
Common names	Bagre de canal, Barbue de rivière, Barbue de rivière, ... more

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Ictalurus punctatus

Picture by Lovshin, L.

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Main reference

Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr. 1991. (Ref. 5723)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 132 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26550); common length : 57.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59043); max. published weight: 26.3 kg (Ref. 4699); max. reported age: 24 years (Ref. 59043)

Length at first maturity

L_m 36.0 range ? - ? cm

Environment

Benthopelagic; freshwater; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 4 - 30; depth range 15 - ? m (Ref. 9988)

Climate / Range

Subtropical; 10°C - 32°C (Ref. 12741); 51°N - 27°N

North America: Central drainages of the United States to southern Canada and northern Mexico. Trade restricted in Germany (Anl.3 BArtSchV).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Usually bluish olive, gray or black on the upper part of the body, becoming white below; dark spots usually scattered along the sides; older males dark in color, the head looking very wide when seen from the top; long barbels surrounding the mouth and the tail deeply forked (Ref. 44091).

Inhabit rivers and streams and prefer clean, well oxygenated water (Ref. 9988), but also in ponds and reservoirs (Ref. 10294, 44091). Feed primarily on small fish, crustaceans (e.g. crayfish), clams and snails; also feed on aquatic insects and small mammals (Ref. 9669, 10294, 44091). Marketed fresh, smoked and frozen; eaten steamed, fried, broiled, boiled, microwaved and baked (Ref. 9988). Albino form common in the aquarium trade (Ref. 13371).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Not Evaluated	Potential pest (Ref. 13371)

Human uses
Fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment Abundance	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

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