Spotted bullhead (Ameiurus serracanthus)

Image source: Eric C. Maxwell | inaturalist.org

General data

Main name: Spotted bullhead
Climates: Subtropical, Temperate
Habitat: Freshwater
Native: North America
Distribution: Suwannee River, Apalachicola, Ochlockonee River

Classification

Genus: Ameiurus - Bullheads
Family: Ictaluridae - North American freshwater catfishes
Order: Siluriformes - Catfishes
Class: Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes
Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes

Description

The spotted bullhead is a small strikingly marked catfish that attains a maximum total length of 23 cm (9 in). It is a member of a group of bullhead species having a black blotch in the base of the dorsal fin and a relatively large eye. The spotted bullhead is distinguished by profuse, round light-colored spots of pupil-sized diameter on the dark body. The body and fins are suffused with yellow, and the spots thus appear to be yellow. Barbels are dusky to dark. The name serracanthus refers to the strongly serrated pectoral spine which has 6-20 large serrae, or tooth-like projections, on the posterior margin. All the fins are edged in black, and the caudal fin is moderately emarginate. Similar Species: The spotted bullhead is often confused with the snail bullhead (Ameiurus brunneus); both species have a large eye, dorsal fin blotch, and a mottled coloration pattern. The snail bullhead has much smaller pectoral serrae, lighter colored chin barbels, less distinct spotting, and typically has fewer anal rays (17-20 vs. 19-23) than the spotted bullhead. Habitat: The spotted bullhead is known from mainstem and large tributaries. It prefers rocky substrates with moderate currents, and has been collected occasionally over mud near vegetation or other structures such as old stumps in impounded portions of rivers. Threats: Bullhead catfishes are extremely vulnerable to predation by introduced species of large catfishes, such as flathead and blue catfish. Both of these species have been introduced into the Flint and Chattahoochee River systems. Population fragmentation is also a threat, particularly in heavily impounded Chattahoochee River. The removal of dead-head logs would negatively impact the habitats utilized by this species. Range includes the Gulf Coastal Plain below the Fall Line from the Suwannee River to the Yellow River, in northern Florida, southern Georgia, and southeastern Alabama, USA (Page and Burr 2011); occurs in the lower Chattahoochee River in Alabama; the lower Flint, Withlacoochee, and Alapaha Rivers in Georgia; and an isolated segment of the Yellow River, most of the Choctawhatchee River, the upper Chipola River, the lower Apalachicola River, most of the Ochlockonee River, and most of the Suwannee and Santa Fe Rivers in Florida.

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
- Coelacanthi - Lobe-finned fishes->
- Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes->
  - Perciformes - Perches->
  - Cypriniformes - Carps->
  - Esociformes - Pikes->
  - Salmoniformes - Salmons and Trouts->
  - Siluriformes - Catfishes->
    
    Siluridae - Eurasian catfishes->
    
    Ictaluridae - North American freshwater catfishes->
    
    Ameiurus - Bullheads->
    
    Black bullhead (Ameiurus melas)
    
    Brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus)
    
    White bullhead (Ameiurus catus)
    
    Snail bullhead (Ameiurus brunneus)
    
    Yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis)
    
    Flat bullhead (Ameiurus platycephalus)
    
    Spotted bullhead (Ameiurus serracanthus)
    
    Ictalurus - North American catfishes->
    
    Pylodictis - Flathead catfishes->
    
    Noturus - Madtoms->
    
    Prietella - Prietella->
    
    Satan - Satan->
    
    Trogloglanis - Trogloglanis->
    
    Pimelodidae - Long-whiskered catfishes->
    
    Pangasiidae - Shark catfishes->
    
    Astroblepidae - Naked sucker-mouth catfishes->
    
    Clariidae - Airbreathing catfishes->
    
    Ariidae - Sea catfishes->
    
    Plotosidae - Eeltail catfishes->
    
    Doradidae - Thorny catfishes->
    
    Auchenipteridae - Driftwood catfishes->
    
    Bagridae - Naked catfishes->
    
    Callichthyidae - Armored catfishes->
    
    Sisoridae - Asian adhesive catfishes->
    
    Malapteruridae - Electric catfishes->
    
    Schilbeidae - Schilbid catfishes->
    
    Loricariidae - Armoured suckermouth catfishes->
    
    Heptapteridae - Three-barbeled catfishes->
    
    Ailiidae - Asian schilbeids->
    
    Akysidae - Stream catfishes->
    
    Amblycipitidae - Torrent catfishes->
    
    Amphiliidae - Loach catfishes->
    
    Anchariidae - Vaonas->
    
    Aspredinidae - Banjo catfishes->
    
    Austroglanididae - Austroglanids->
    
    Cetopsidae - Whale catfishes->
    
    Chacidae - Squarehead or angler catfish->
    
    Claroteidae - Claroteid catfishes->
    
    Cranoglanididae - Armorhead catfishes->
    
    Diplomystidae - Velvet catfishes->
    
    Erethistidae - South Asian river catfishes->
    
    Heteropneustidae - Airsac catfishes->
    
    Horabagridae - Imperial catfishes->
    
    Kryptoglanidae - Indian cave catfishes->
    
    Lacantuniidae - Chiapas catfishes->
    
    Mochokidae - Squeakers or upside-down catfishes->
    
    Nematogenyidae - Mountain catfishes->
    
    Olyridae - Longtail catfishes->
    
    Parakysidae - Parakysid catfishes->
    
    Phreatobiidae - Cistern catfishes->
    
    Pseudopimelodidae - Bumblebee catfishes, dwarf marbled catfishes->
    
    Scoloplacidae - Spiny dwarf catfishes->
    
    Trichomycteridae - Pencil or parasitic catfishes->
  - Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes->
  - Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks->
  - Gadiformes - Cods->
  - Anguilliformes - Eels and morays->
  - Clupeiformes - Herrings->
  - Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses->
  - Gobiiformes - Gobies->
  - Mugiliformes - Mullets->
  - Carangiformes - Jacks->
  - Beloniformes - Needlefishes->
  - Labriformes - Wrasses->
  - Scombriformes - Mackerels->
  - Mulliformes - Goatfishes->
  - Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes->
  - Aulopiformes - Grinners->
  - Blenniiformes - Blennies->
  - Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps->
  - Osmeriformes - Smelts->
  - Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes->
  - Cichliformes - Cichlids->
  - Characiformes - Characins->
  - Osteoglossiformes - Bony tongues->
  - Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders->
  - Anabantiformes - Gouramies and snakeheads->
  - Gymnotiformes - South American knifefish->
  - Istiophoriformes - Barracudas->
  - Albuliformes - Bonefishes->
  - Lepidogalaxiiformes - Salamanderfishes->
  - Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes->
  - Spariformes - Breams and porgies->
  - Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes->
  - Moroniformes - Temperate basses->
  - Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes->
  - Zeiformes - Dories->
  - Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes->
  - Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes->
  - Dactylopteriformes - Flying gurnards->
  - Lampriformes - Lamprids->
  - Galaxiiformes - Southern smelts->
  - Batrachoidiformes - Toadfishes->
  - Hiodontiformes - Mooneyes->
  - Percopsiformes - Trout-perches->
  - Callionymiformes - Dragonets->
  - Atheriniformes - Silversides->
  - Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels->
  - Saccopharyngiformes - Swallowers and Gulpers->
  - Alepocephaliformes - Slickheads and tubeshoulders->
  - Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes->
  - Argentiniformes - Marine smelts->
  - Stomiiformes - Lightfishes and dragonfishes->
  - Ateleopodiformes - Jellynose fishes->
  - Myctophiformes - Lanternfishes->
  - Stylephoriformes - Tube-eyes->
  - Polymixiiformes - Beardfishes->
  - Beryciformes - Sawbellies->
  - Trachichthyiformes - Rughies->
  - Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels->
  - Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes->
  - Synbranchiformes - Swamp eels->
  - Gobiesociformes - Clingfishes->
  - Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses->
- Cladistii - Bichirs->
- Dipneusti - Lungfishes->
- Chondrostei - Sturgeons->
- Holostei - Gars and Bowfins->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->