Brown Bullhead
Ameiurus nebulosus
The brown bullhead is a smooth-skinned catfish with a mottled, brownish body, whisker-like barbels around the mouth and a squared tail fin. (Photo courtesy Stas & Lana/iNaturalist CC BY-NC)
A brown bullhead is caught in Queen Anne's County, Md. (Photo courtesy lassa8/iNaturalist CC BY-NC)
A brown bullhead catfish floats stunned on the surface of the Anacostia River during an electrofishing operation by staff from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the District Department of Environment (DOEE) at Bladensburg Park in Bladensburg, Md., on May 31, 2016. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
A brown bullhead catfish caught in the Anacostia River in Bladensburg, Md., exhibits a skin tumor on May 18, 2016. Researchers from USFWS study the incidence of skin and liver tumors in the fish species in part to assess the health of the water. Though the cause of skin tumors requires further research, liver tumors are associated with exposure to toxic chemical contaminants known as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The Anacostia has a higher incidence than other areas in the Chesapeake Bay, but has observed a decrease in tumors over time. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
The brown bullhead is a smooth-skinned catfish with a mottled, brownish body and whisker-like barbels around the mouth. It lives in slow-moving ponds, streams and rivers throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Appearance
The brown bullhead grows to about one foot long, but can be as long as 20 inches. Its olive or yellowish-brown body is mottled with brown or black. It has a yellowish-white belly. It is smooth-skinned with a broad, flat head and four pairs of dark, whisker-like barbels around its mouth. Sharp spines appear on its dorsal and pectoral fins, and its tail fin is squared.
Feeding
Brown bullheads are bottom-feeders that eat algae, insects, mollusks, crustaceans, crayfish and other fish, using their long barbels to taste for prey.
Predators
Larger predatory fish may prey upon brown bullheads, especially young.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Spawning occurs from April through June. The parents build a nest in a dark, protected area such as under a rock or inside a hollow, submerged log. The female lays her eggs into the nest. Both parents guard the eggs and young. Brown bullheads can live as long as 7 years.
Did You Know?
- The brown bullhead is considered to be a delicious fish to eat.
- Catfish have poor eyesight, so they rely on their sensory barbels to find prey.
Sources and Additional Information
- Fishes of Chesapeake Bay by Edward O. Murdy, Ray S. Birdsong and John A. Musick
- Life in the Chesapeake Bay by Alice Jane Lippson and Robert L. Lippson
- Chesapeake Bay: Nature of the Estuary, A Field Guide by Christopher P. White
- Brown Bullhead – Michigan Department of Natural Resources
- Brown Bullhead – Florida Museum of Natural History
Quick Facts
Species
Native
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Size
Average about one foot in length; can reach 20 inches in length
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Habitat
Fresh and slightly brackish waters, including shallows, clear pools and deeper areas; prefers slow-moving waters with a soft bottom and lots of vegetation
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Range
Found in ponds, lakes, streams and rivers throughout the Bay watershed.
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Diet
Algae, insects, mollusks, crustaceans, crayfish and other fish
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Lifespan
Up to 7 years -
Status
Stable
