Ameiurus natalis

Pools, backwaters, and sluggish current over soft substrate in creeks and small to large rivers; oxbows, ponds, and impoundments (Ref. 5723, 10294).

Global Range: (>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)) Native throughout most of the eastern and central U.S. and adjacent southern Canada. Introduced widely outside native range.

Yellow bullhead range throughout the eastern United States, extending north to southeastern Canada and west to the Great Plains and Rio Grande drainage; they have also been introduced in other places.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

North America: Atlantic and Gulf slope drainages from New York to northern Mexico, and St. Lawrence-Great Lakes and Mississippi river basins from southern Quebec west to central North Dakota, and south to the Gulf. At least one country reports adverse ecological impact after introduction.

Yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis) range throughout the eastern United States, extending north to southeastern Canada and west to the Great Plains and Rio Grande drainage; they are introduced elsewhere (Etnier and Starnes, 1993).

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Southern Canada, central and eastern U.S.A. Introduced into other areas of eastern and western North America.

Yellow bullhead are ray-finned fish that lack scales. The upper side of the body can be yellow to olive, brown, mottled gray, or black. The belly is usually a yellow color. The caudal (tail) fin is rounded and unforked. Yellow bullhead may live to be 7 years old, and grow up to 45.7 to 48.3 centimeters long and weigh up to 3.2 kilograms.

Yellow bullhead are similar to Ameiurus melas and Ameiurus nebulosus. They differ from these two species in that they have white or yellow chin barbels (that look like whiskers). Both black and brown bullhead have some dark color on the chin barbels.

Average mass: 454 g.

Range length: 20.3 to 25.4 cm.

Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

Average mass: 1278 g.

Yellow bullhead are ray-finned fish that lack scales. The dorsal part of the body can be yellow to olive, brown, mottled gray, or black. The belly is usually a yellow color. The caudal fin is rounded and unforked. Anal fin rays number 24 to 28; 25 to 26 is most common. Yellow bullhead may live to be 7 years old, and grow up to 45.7 to 48.3 centimeters long and weigh up to 3.2 kilograms.

Yellow bullhead are similar to black (Ameiurus melas) and brown (Ameiurus nebulosus) bullhead. They differ from these two species in that they have white or yellow chin barbels. Both black and brown bullhead have some dark pigmentation on the chin barbels. Fins and colorations are similar among the three species.

Average mass: 454 g.

Range length: 20.3 to 25.4 cm.

Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

Average mass: 1278 g.

Maximum size: 470 mm TL

47.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 5723)); max. published weight: 1,920 g (Ref. 4699); max. reported age: 4 years (Ref. 72462)

Length: 38 cm

Habitat Type: Freshwater

Comments: This bullhead occurs in shallow, soft-bottomed, weedy parts of clear warm lakes, ponds, reservoirs, or slow-moving streams or canals. It is more tolerant of pollution than are most other ictalurids. Eggs are laid in saucer-shaper depressions beside or beneath banks, logs, or tree roost, or in burrows or under debris on the bottom (Becker 1983).

Yellow bullhead prefer backwaters with slow current in rivers and streams. They can be found in the shallow parts of streams, lakes, ponds, or large bays. Yellow bullhead can live in silty, polluted waters with slow current and low levels of oxygen clean, clear waters. Yellow bullhead are bottom dwellers, living in areas with muck, rock, sand, or clay substrates.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; freshwater

Aquatic Biomes: benthic ; lakes and ponds; rivers and streams; temporary pools

demersal; freshwater; depth range 10 - ? m

Yellow bullhead prefer backwaters with slow current in rivers and streams. They can be found in the shallow parts of streams, lakes, ponds, or large bays. Habitat varies from a slow current with poorly oxygenated, highly silted, and highly polluted water to a more swift current with clean and clear water that has aquatic vegetation. Yellow bullhead are bottom dwellers, living in areas with muck, rock, sand, or clay substrates.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; freshwater

Aquatic Biomes: benthic ; lakes and ponds; rivers and streams; temporary pools

Depth range based on 31 specimens in 2 taxa.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0.06 - 1.35

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0.06 - 1.35
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Like other Siluriformes species, yellow bullheads will eat almost anything that they can, including scavenging. Yellow bullheads feed at night. They have been known to eat minnows, crayfish, insects and insect larvae, aquatic invertebrates, and worms. Yellow bullheads also eat aquatic vegetation. The young will feed on aquatic invertebrates.

Animal Foods: fish; carrion ; insects; mollusks; terrestrial worms; aquatic crustaceans

Plant Foods: macroalgae

Other Foods: detritus

Pools, backwaters, and sluggish current over soft substrate in creeks and small to large rivers; oxbows, ponds, and impoundments.

Like all other catfish species, yellow bullheads are opportunistic feeders. Yellow bullheads feed at night. They have been known to eat minnows, crayfish, insects and insect larvae, aquatic invertebrates, and worms. Compared to the other two bullheads, the yellow bullheads consume more aquatic vegetation. The young will feed on aquatic invertebrates.

Animal Foods: fish; carrion ; insects; mollusks; terrestrial worms; aquatic crustaceans

Plant Foods: macroalgae

Other Foods: detritus

Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore , Eats non-insect arthropods, Molluscivore )

Comments: Young eat mainly entomostracans and insect larvae; adults eat a wide variety of living and dead plant and animal material (Becker 1983). Adults primarily piscivorous but also eat aquatic insect larvae, crustaceans, snails, and algae; immatures are generalists (Sublette et al. 1990).

Yellow bullheads are parasitized by leeches (Hirudinea) and the freshwater mussels, Strophitus undulatus, use them to help disperse their larvae. Yellow bullheads are also important predators and prey in the ecosystems in which they live.

Commensal/Parasitic Species:

• creepers (Strophitus_undulatus)
• leeches (Hirudinea)

Yellow bullheads are preyed upon by larger fish such as Micropterus salmoides, Pomoxis nigromaculatus, Lepomis macrochirus and other Siluriformes. Large wading birds and some turtles will also prey on adults. Young yellow bullheads can be eaten by smaller predators, like Odonata and Cambaridae. They can inflict a venomous sting with spines on their sides, this helps them to avoid predation.

Known Predators:

• largemouth bass (Micropterus_salmoides)
• black crappie (Pomoxis_nigromaculatus)
• bluegill (Lepomis_macrochirus)
• large wading birds (Aves)
• turtles (Testudines)

Yellow bullheads have been found to be a host species for creepers (Strophitus undulatus) and they are parasitized by leeches (Hirudinea).

Commensal/Parasitic Species:

• creepers (Strophitus undulatus)
• leeches (Hirudinea)

Yellow bullheads are preyed upon by larger fish such as largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and other catfish. Large wading birds and some turtles will also take the adults. The young will be taken by smaller predators, aquatic invertebrates, leeches, and crayfish. They can inflict venomous stings with their pectoral spines, helping them to avoid predation.

Known Predators:

• largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
• black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
• bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
• large wading birds (Aves)
• turtles (Testudines)

Spiroxys Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Spinitectus Infestation 3. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Dichelyne Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Contracaecum Infestation 3. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: > 300

Comments: This species is represented by a large number of occurrences (subpopulations).

>1,000,000 individuals

Comments: Total adult population size is unknown but probably exceeds 1,000,000. Common in center of range (Page and Burr 2011).

Yellow bullheads are a very social fish and can recognize other yellow bullheads by their smell. They use their nose to smell and the "whiskers" and taste buds are used to find food. Taste buds are found in the mouth and all over the body. Yellow bullheads have 5 taste buds every 5 mm² of their body surface. The "whiskers" serve as both an external tongue and hands. Bullheads can feel with their body and their barbels. They also have 20,000 taste buds on the eight whiskers. The average adult has a total of over 200,000 taste buds on its body.

Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical

Perception Channels: visual

Atema et al. (1969) and Todd (1971) have indicated that yellow bullheads are a very social fish and can recognize other individuals and their social status by their smell. The olfactory apparatus (i.e., nose) is responsible for this ability, while the barbels and other dermal taste buds are used for locating food (Etnier and Etnier, 2005).

Taste buds are found in the mouth and all over the body. Yellow bullheads have 5 taste buds every 5 mm² on their body surface. The barbels serve as both an external tongue and hands. Bullheads can feel with their body and their barbels. They also have 20,000 taste buds on the eight whiskers. The average adult has a total of over 200,000 taste buds on its body.

Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical

Perception Channels: visual

Comments: Activity mostly nocturnal.

Yellow bullhead eggs hatch five to ten days after fertilization. The male yellow bullhead guards the nest during this time. When they hatch the young fry are herded into tight schools by the male and protected until they are about two inches long. They are able to mate when they reach 2 to 3 years old or at least 140 mm in length.

Yellow bullhead eggs hatch five to ten days after fertilization. The male yellow bullhead guards the nest during this period. Upon hatching, the young fry are herded into tight schools by the male and protected until they are approximately two inches long. Sexual maturity is reached between the ages of 2 and 3 years, when the fish are at least 140 mm in length.

Yellow bullheads can live up to 7 years in the wild. Most yellow bullheads probably die when they are eggs, fry, or small fish.

Range lifespan
Status: wild: 7 (high) years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild: 4.0 years.

Yellow bullheads have a 7 year life span in the wild.

Range lifespan
Status: wild: 7 (high) years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild: 4.0 years.

Yellow bullhead males dig nests, which might be a shallow depression in the mud to a deep burrow in the stream bank. They prefer nest sites that are protected by underwater vegetation or by rocks or stumps. Nest sites attract females for mating.

Mating System: monogamous

Yellow bullhead breed from April until June, beginning when water temperatures reach 23 to 28 degrees Celsius. The female produces 300 to 700 sticky yellowish eggs each time she breeds, and the nest can contain from 1700 to 4300 eggs altogether.

Breeding interval: Yellow bullheads breed once yearly.

Breeding season: Yellow bullheads breed and spawn from April to July.

Range number of offspring: 1700 to 4300.

Average time to hatching: 5-7 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2-3 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2-3 years.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (External ); oviparous

Average number of offspring: 500.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
Sex: male: 730 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female: 730 days.

Both the male and female help in the construction of the nest and, while the young are in the nest, one of the parents will guard them. After the fry hatch the male herds the young into a dense ball and will protect them until they grow to two inches long.

Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Protecting: Male); pre-independence (Protecting: Male)

Yellow bullhead males dig nests, which may range from a shallow depression in muddy sediment to a deep burrow in the stream bank. Protected nest sites near rocks and stumps with dense vegetation are preferred. Nest sites attract females for mating.

Mating System: monogamous

Yellow bullhead spawn from April until June, beginning when water temperatures reach 23 to 28 degrees Celsius. The female produces 300 to 700 sticky yellowish eggs per spawning act, and the nest can contain 1700 to 4300 eggs in total.

Breeding interval: Yellow bullheads breed once yearly.

Breeding season: Yellow bullheads breed and spawn from April to July.

Range number of offspring: 1700 to 4300.

Average time to hatching: 5-7 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2-3 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2-3 years.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (External ); oviparous

Average number of offspring: 500.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
Sex: male: 730 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female: 730 days.

Both the male and female help in the construction of the nest and while the young are in the nest one of the parents will guard them. After the fry hatch the male herds the young into a dense ball and will protect them until they grow to two inches long.

Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Protecting: Male); pre-independence (Protecting: Male)

Spawns in spring and early summer. Eggs hatch in 5-10 days. Parent guards nest and compact school of young until they are about 50 mm long. Probably sexually mature at age of 2-3 yr.

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

There are 13 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.

Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 13
Specimens with Barcodes: 20
Species With Barcodes: 1

Yellow bullhead populations are stable, they are not protected by any conservation listing.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: not evaluated

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

Yellow bullheads are not known to have any specific conservation status.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N4 - Apparently Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Global Short Term Trend: Relatively stable (=10% change)

Comments: Trend over the past 10 years or three generations: likely relatively stable.

Global Long Term Trend: Relatively stable to increase of >25%

Comments: Range and population size have increased over the long term as a result of introductions outside the native range.

Comments: No major threats are known.

Not Evaluated

Bullheads are well known for the stings they can give you from the spines on their sides. The pain can last for a week or more. The sting is caused by small glands near their fins that produce a poison which causes the swelling. The pain can be dulled by dabbing ammonia on the wound.

Negative Impacts: injures humans (bites or stings)

Yellow bullheads are considered good to eat and are sought by fishermen. Yellow bullheads also can be introduced into dirty waters because of their high tolerance to pollution.

Positive Impacts: food

gamefish: yes

Bullheads are very well known for the ability to inflict a sting with their pectoral spines. The pain can last for a week or more. The sting is caused by small glands near their fins that produce a poison which causes the swelling. The pain can be dulled by dabbing ammonia on the wound.

Negative Impacts: injures humans (bites or stings)

Yellow bullheads are not considered to be a game fish, but they are widely sought after for food. Yellow bullheads also can be introduced into streams with high pollution because of their high tolerance to pollution.

Positive Impacts: food