Ictalurus punctatus

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).

Global Range: (>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)) Native range includes the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River drainage), and Missouri-Mississippi river basins from southern Quebec to southern Manitoba and Montana, south to Gulf of Mexico; possibly also native on Atlantic and Gulf slopes from Susquehanna River to Neuse River, and from Savannah River to Lake Okeechobee, and west to northern Mexico and eastern New Mexico; widely introduced throughout most of the United States(Page and Burr 2011).

Channel catfish are native to the Neartic range, from lower Canada and throughout the midwest of the United States. Channel catfish have been introduced in the Palearctic in Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain as well as Malaysia.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); palearctic (Introduced ); oriental (Introduced )

North America: Central drainages of the United States to southern Canada and northern Mexico.

The native range of Ictalurus punctatus is the Neartic in lower Canada and throughout the midwest of the United States. Channel catfish have been introduced in the Palearctic in Cyprus, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain (Elvira, 2001) as well as Malaysia (FFRC, 2004).

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); palearctic (Introduced ); oriental (Introduced )

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

Eastern North America, from southern Canada and northern U.S.A. to eastern Mexico. Introduced widely elsewhere.

Channel catfish have smooth scales that are speckled, with a darker back to a light whitish belly. Their colors can vary from blue, to black, or olive. Generally in muddy water they are olive to yellowish white and in clear water they are blacker in color. The difference between channel catfish and other U. S. catfishes is the deeply forked caudal fin with the top of the fin larger than the bottom portion. There are two barbels on the upper jaw and four on the lower jaw. They have 24 to 29 rays in the anal fin. The upper jaw protrudes in front of the lower jaw. The dorsal and pectoral fins have hard spines whereas the other rays are soft like the anal and caudal fins. Males generally have larger heads than females and males are darker in body color than females. There is little difference between young and old fish other than size, but at very early ages channel catfish are transparent.

Average mass: 0.9-1.8 kg.

Average length: 36 to 53 cm.

Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes colored or patterned differently; sexes shaped differently

Average mass: 13732.5 g.

Ictalurus punctatus is a bilaterally symmetrical ray-finned fish without scales. The difference between channel catfish and other U. S. catfishes is the deeply forked caudal fin with the top of the fin larger than the bottom portion. The channel catfish is speckled, with a darker back to a light whitish belly, but the color can vary from blue, black or olive. Generally in muddy water they are olive to yellowish white and in clear water they are blacker in color. There are two barbels on the upper jaw (maxilla) and four on the lower jaw (mandible). They have 24 to 29 rays in the anal fin. The upper jaw protrudes in front of the lower jaw. The dorsal and pectoral fins have hard spines whereas the other rays are soft like the anal and caudal fins. Males generally have larger heads than females and males are darker in body color than females. There is little difference anatomically between young and old fish other than size, but at very early age channel catfish lack pigmentation (Wang, 1996).

Average mass: 0.9-1.8 kg.

Average length: 36 to 53 cm.

Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes colored or patterned differently; sexes shaped differently

Average mass: 13732.5 g.

Skeletal System

Has a smaller anterior cartilage of palatine. Has a larger claustrum bone. Presents a parapophysis. Presents a hypobranchial 2 bone.  Has a larger mesethmoid bone. Has a extrascapula. Presents a interopercle. Has a interhyal bone.  Has a ceratobranchial 5 tooth. Presents a hypobranchial 2 bone distal cartilage. Presents a smaller ceratobranchial 3 bone distal cartilage. Presents a urohyal median process.  Presents a urohyal lateral process. Presents a smaller distal cartilage of external anterior process of basipterygium. Has a external anterior process of basipterygium. Presents a distal cartilage of internal anterior process of basipterygium.  Presents a internal anterior process of basipterygium. Has an ossified hypobranchial 1 element. Has an ossified hypobranchial 2 element. Has a hypobranchial element.  Presents a bigger distal cartilage of posterior process of basipterygium. Has a pharyngobranchial 1 element. Presents an ossified pharyngobranchial 4 element. Presents an ossified basibranchial element.  Has a coronoid process. Presents a hypobranchial 3 cartilage. Has a supraneural 3 cartilage. Presents a posterior limb of parapophysis 4.  Presents a smaller maxilla. Has a larger optic foramen. Has a smaller infraorbital 5.

Respiratory System

Has a hypobranchial 2 bone distal cartilage.  Has a smaller ceratobranchial 3 bone distal cartilage. Has an ossified hypobranchial 1 element. Presents an ossified hypobranchial 2 element. Presents a hypobranchial element.  Has a pharyngobranchial 1 element. Presents an ossified pharyngobranchial 4 element. Has an ossified basibranchial element. Has a hypobranchial 3 cartilage.  Presents a hypobranchial 2 bone. Has a ceratobranchial 5 tooth.

Digestive System

Has a anterior chamber swim bladder. Presents a coronoid process.  Has a smaller maxilla. Has a ceratobranchial 5 tooth.

Musculature System

Has a retractor tentaculi.

Maximum size: 1320 mm TL

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

Length: 127 cm

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).

Habitat Type: Freshwater

Comments: Habitat includes the main channels of small to large rivers, from clear, rapidly flowing, firm-bottomed ones to turbid, mud-bottomed ones, and ponds, lakes, and reservoirs; this species avoids upland streams. Adults usually are in pools or under log jams or cut banks by day, move into riffles at night. Eggs are laid in cave-like sites, such as old muskrat burrows, undercut banks, or log jams, or debris (e.g., barrels). In streams, young-of-year live fulltime in riffles.

Channel catfish can live in both fresh and salt water and brackish water yet they are generally found in freshwater environments. Channel catfish are found in many bodies of water such as lakes, reservoirs and ponds and also in areas of moving water such as streams, creeks and rivers. The depth at which they are found varies but during most of the day they are found in deep holes, overhangs, other various locations that provide shelter or are at the bottom of a body of water. The surfaces at the bottoms of these bodies range from rocky, sandy and gravelly but channel catfish prefer muddy surface bottoms and clear water.

Range depth: 0 to 0 m.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; freshwater

Aquatic Biomes: benthic ; lakes and ponds; rivers and streams; brackish water

Wetlands: marsh ; swamp

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

Channel catfish can live in both fresh and salt water and brackish water yet they are generally found in freshwater environments. Ictalurus punctatus are found in many bodies of water such as lakes, reservoirs and ponds and also in areas of moving water such as streams, creeks and rivers. The depth at which they are found varies but during most of the day they are found in deep holes, overhangs, other various locations that provide shelter or are at the bottom of a body of water. The surfaces at the bottoms of these bodies range from rocky, sandy and gravelly but channel catfish prefer muddy surface bottoms and clear water (eNature.com and Inc, 2003; State of Tennessee, 2004).

Range depth: 0 to 0 m.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; freshwater

Aquatic Biomes: benthic ; lakes and ponds; rivers and streams; brackish water

Wetlands: marsh ; swamp

Depth range based on 5 specimens in 2 taxa.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0.5 - 3

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0.5 - 3
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.

Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some 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: Yes. At least some populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

May travel hundreds of miles upstream or downstream in rivers (Becker 1983).

Ictalurus_punctatus can be thought of as one large mouth because there are taste buds located all over their body. The olfactory system is used mostly in consumption of food. Adult channel catfish, over 45 cm, consume fishes such as Perca flavescens and Centrarchidae. The diet of adults consists of Gastropoda, algae, Serpentes, Anura, insects, aquatic plants, and even birds occasionally. Younger channel catfish are more consistently omnivorous, eating a large variety of plants and animals.

Animal Foods: birds; amphibians; reptiles; fish; insects; mollusks; aquatic crustaceans; other marine invertebrates; zooplankton

Plant Foods: seeds, grains, and nuts; algae; phytoplankton

Other Foods: detritus

Ictalurus punctatus can be thought of as one large mouth because there are taste buds located all over their body. The olfactory system is used mostly in consumption of food. Adult channel catfish, over 45 cm, consume fishes such as yellow perch and sunfish. The diet of adults consists of snails, algae, snakes, frogs, insects, aquatic plants, and even birds occasionally. Younger channel catfish are more consistently omnivorous, eating a large variety of plants and animals (Northwest, 2004).

Animal Foods: birds; amphibians; reptiles; fish; insects; mollusks; aquatic crustaceans; other marine invertebrates; zooplankton

Plant Foods: seeds, grains, and nuts; algae; phytoplankton

Other Foods: detritus

Primary Diet: omnivore

Comments: Bottom feeder. Young eat mainly small invertebrates; as they grow, fishes and crayfish become increasingly important, though individuals of all sizes eat abundant aquatic insects. Large fish are mainly piscivorous (Moyle 1976). Also ingests plant material. In Arizona, preyed heavily on reintroduced razorback suckers (Marsh and Brooks 1989).

Channel catfish mainly interact with other animals in their ecosystem as predators or as prey. Some freshwater Bivalvia use channel catfish as a host for their larvae, the larvae travel in the gills of the catfish and fall out onto the bottoms of rivers and lakes, where they transform to adults.

The spines on the dorsal and pectoral fins are great anti-predator devices. A predator trying to eat a channel catfish could get impaled by a spine. Only large fish are capable of eating a channel catfish. The darker color of the channel catfish helps camouflage it in the bottom of a clear river, but in muddy water visibility is minimal and this would have less of an anti-predator adaptation. Juvenile catfish have many predators, including many birds, other carnivorous fishes and some insects. Also channel catfish eggs are an easy source of food for many animals but the protection from the parents enables the success of the future offspring.

Known Predators:

• insects (Insecta)
• predatory fish (Actinopterygii, on juveniles)
• predatory birds (Aves, on juveniles)
• humans (Homo_sapiens)

The channel catfish is neither commensal nor mutualist partner with other species. Ictalurus punctatus is mainly a predator and prey. Freshwater mussels, both commerical species and species of concern, may use Ictalurus punctatus as a host. The following freshwater mussels have been found to metamorphose on Ictalurus punctatus in lab trials: Anodonta suborbiculata, Arcidens confragosus, Cyclonaias tuberculata, Lampsilis hydiana, Megalonaias nervosa, Quadrula asperata, Quadrula fragosa, Quadrula nobilis, Quadrula pustulosa, and Strophitus undulatus.

Ictalurus punctatus preys on:
Stizostedion vitreum

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Epitheliocystis. Bacterial diseases

Enteric Septicaemia of Catfish. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Enteric Redmouth Disease. Bacterial diseases

Edwardsiellosis. Bacterial diseases

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

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

Channel catfish reovirus. Viral diseases

Aeromonosis. Bacterial diseases

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 very large. This species is common in much of its range.

May travel hundreds of miles upstream or downstream in rivers (Becker 1983). Through competition and/or hybridization, has eliminated I. LUPUS from most of original range in New Mexico (Sublette et al. 1990).

Taste buds are found on the interior of the mouth and over the body of the fish. Channel catfish can detect prey by "smelling" them through the water with their taste buds. Another characteristic of channel catfish is the ability to produce sounds, they are able to use an organ attached to their swimbladder to amplify sound vibrations, which may be a way of communicating with other catfish.

Communication Channels: acoustic ; chemical

Other Communication Modes: vibrations

Perception Channels: acoustic ; vibrations

Comments: Most active at night (sundown to midnight) and when water levels are rising (Becker 1983).

After fertilization males protect the eggs and make sure they have enough oxygen. The eggs are sticky, so that they can be placed on objects, and their size ranges from 2.4 to 3.0 mm in diameter. The temperature of the water determines how long before the eggs are hatched. If the water is 24 to 26 °C hatching takes 7 to 10 days but if the water is 24 °C it takes 6 days. Ideal hatching time and temperature is 4-6 days at 25-27 °C.

The yolk sac is still present in the larval stage, and it is still large in comparison to the larvae in this stage. The larvae do not have teeth or pigment. They remain close to the nest at first but then move into shallow waters.

The next stage is the juvenile; these individuals are found in shallow waters and generally only have up to 10 rays on the pectoral fins. Juveniles stay together for several days or weeks and feed on small invertebrates. Between the age of two and three years they are able to reproduce.

Development - Life Cycle: indeterminate growth

Spawning happens, depending on latitude, during the months of April-July, with temperatures between 27-28°C. Females lay their egges on a hole dug on sandy grounds. Incubation lasts 3-8 days, and larval development between 12-16 days, depending on temperature. The pair builds a depression in the ground, which is guarded by the male (Ref. 1672). Channel catfish requires cool water and short day lengths during the winter months for proper egg development; an egg mass can contain up to 20,000 eggs (Ref. 44091). Sexual maturity is reached at 2-3 years.

The life expectancy of a channel catfish is around 14 years old but they can exceed this number. In captivity the channel catfish is generally harvested after 2 years.

Range lifespan
Status: wild: 40 (high) years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild: 14 years.

Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 16 years.

The life expectancy of a channel catfish is around 14 years old but they can exceed this number. In captivity the channel catfish is generally harvested after 2 years (Wellburn, 1988).

Range lifespan
Status: wild: 40 (high) years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild: 14 years.

Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 16 years.

Channel catfish find a single mate during each season. Males court females to convince them to mate with them. The male and female mate in the summer but the relationship is established earlier in the year. Males and females mate by swimming together and releasing the eggs and sperm at the same time into a nest built by the female or both the male and female. After mating has occurred the male chases away the female and then guards the eggs until they hatch.

Mating System: monogamous

Channel catfish spawn in the summer. After hatching the juveniles take from two days to two weeks until they are independent. Channel catfish make nests in hidden places, for example, in enclosed cans, under overhangs or in deep holes that provide extra protection from predators.

Breeding interval: Breeding occurs once yearly.

Breeding season: Spawning occurs in the summer, May through July.

Range number of offspring: 3,000 to 50,000.

Range time to hatching: 4 to 10 days.

Range time to independence: 0.5 to 4 weeks.

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

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

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; sexual ; fertilization (External ); oviparous

Channel catfish parents invest a lot into their offspring. After spawning the male chases the female away from the nest, but she does not leave completely. She will protect her eggs from a distance. The male and female will attack predators and chase them away with an open mouth but will not eat them. The male also provides the juveniles with a source of food by burrowing, a process where the fish swim down into the mud on the bottom of the body of water and thrash from side to side stirring up food particles for the offspring to eat. The female also provides food for the juveniles by positioning her body about a meter above the nest and then releasing eggs for the juveniles to eat. Together the male and female provide protection and food for their young.

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

Ictalurus punctatus is monogamous and has an extensive courtship behavior that might only last one mating season. The male and female mate in the summer but the relationship is established earlier in the year. Mating takes place when the male swims along the female in the opposite direction. Their tails wrap around the others head to begin mating. When the male’s body shivers the female is stimulated and the eggs and milt are released. The mass of eggs is deposited in a nest built by the female or by both the male and the female. After mating has occurred the male chases away the female and then guards the eggs until they hatch (Mayhew, 1987).

Mating System: monogamous

Channel catfish spawn in the summer. After hatching the juveniles take from two days to two weeks until they are independent. Channel catfish make nests in hidden places, for example, in enclosed cans, under overhangs or in deep holes that provide extra protection from predators (Chapman, 2004; Northwest Power and Concervation Council-Subbasin Planning, 2004).

Breeding interval: Breeding occurs once yearly.

Breeding season: Spawning occurs in the summer, May through July.

Range number of offspring: 3,000 to 50,000.

Range time to hatching: 4 to 10 days.

Range time to independence: 0.5 to 4 weeks.

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

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

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; sexual ; fertilization (External ); oviparous

Channel catfish parents invest a lot into their offspring. After spawning the male chases the female away from the nest, but she does not leave completely. She will protect her eggs from a distance. The male and female will attack predators and chase them away with an open mouth but will not eat them. The male also provides the juveniles with a source of food by burrowing, a process where the fish swim down into the mud on the bottom of the body of water and thrash from side to side stirring up food particles for the offspring to eat (McKaye et al., 1994). The female also provides food for the juveniles by positioning her body about a meter above the nest and then releasing eggs for the juveniles to eat. Together the male and female provide protection and food for their young (Vallentgoed, 2004).

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

Spawns in late spring and summer. Eggs hatch in 5-10 days. Males guard and fan water over nest during incubation and stay with young after hatching. Schools of young may persist several weeks after departure from nest. Sexually mature in 2-8 years. Females spawn once annually (Scott and Crossman 1973, Moyle 1976).

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 48
Specimens with Barcodes: 139
Species With Barcodes: 1

The IUCN Red List, CITES appendices, and the US Endangered Species Act list the status of Ictalurus_punctatus as not significant or not present, meaning there is no threat of this species going extinct.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: no special status

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Global Short Term Trend: Relatively stable to increase of 25%

Comments: Trend over the past 10 years or three generations is uncertain, but distribution and abundance probably are still increasing.

Global Long Term Trend: Increase of >25%

Comments: Distribution and abundance have greatly increased through introductions.

Comments: No major threats are known.

Not Evaluated

There are no known negative impacts of channel catfish on humans.

Farm raising of channel catfish for food is a multimillion dollar business (Burden, 2004).

Positive Impacts: food

fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial

Comments: The most widely cultivated warm water fish in North America; can be reared in polyculture with other fishes or freshwater shrimp; readily hybridizes with blue catfish and hybrids grow faster than either parent (induced polyploidy has same effect) (Sublette et al. 1990). Has been used in carcinogenesis testing (Metcalfe 1989).