Brown Bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus
> Brown, black, and yellow bullhead can hybridize which can make classifying any of these three species difficult.
> Bullheads can bury themselves in mud to withstand harsh environmental conditions.
> They can tolerate a wide range of environmental variation, including low dissolved oxygen concentrations, lower temperatures, and pollution.
Identification Tips
> Brown Bullheads, like other species of catfish, lack scales. . They are mottled yellowish-dark brown on the sides and back with a yellow belly.
> They have square or rounded tails, similar to Yellow Bullhead, but different than Channel Catfish, which have a forked tail.
> The pectoral or dorsal fin spines have barbs on their trailing edges.
> Their chin barbels are dark but pale near the base .
> Like other catfish, they have an adipose fin.
Natural History
> They are opportunistic feeders relying on their sense of smell, touch, and taste to locate their food.
> Brown Bullheads are primarily nocturnal and found on the bottoms of warm, slow-moving ponds, lakes, and off-channel habitats in rivers or reservoirs.
> They reproduce in late spring when water temperatures are approximately 70°F (21.1°C). Mating pairs are established for the duration of the reproductive season.
> They may live as long as 6-8 years in the wild.
Range
> They are native to the Mississippi River drainage and found in eastern and southeastern North America.
> They have been introduced to several countries and various U.S. states. Brown Bullheads are nonnative in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon, and the Willamette River basin.
> Brown Bullhead are broadly distributed in Oregon. They are found throughout the mainstem Willamette River, and in tributaries and ponds.
Size
> Adults are up to 11 inches (30 cm), but adults measuring 19 inches (50 cm) have been recorded.
Habitat
> They are typically found in slow flowing river and stream sections with soft substrates and vegetation.
Diet
> Brown Bullhead are invertivores and opportunistically piscivorous. They are scavengers and have been observed eating eggs from their own nest and browsing along the substrate for food items.
Management And Conservation Actions
> Bullheads can be caught any month of the year, but fishing is best from the first warm days of February through October.
Similar Species
> Yellow Bullhead. Chin barbels in this species are white to cream color, unlike the ones on Brown Bullhead. They are often yellow to brown in color with a lighter to white colored belly.
References
For more information, see references.