Ictalurus catus, also known as the white catfish or white bullhead, is a member of the family Ictaluridae

Ictaluridae

The Ictaluridae, sometimes called Ictalurids, are a family of catfish native to North America, where they are important food fish and sometimes as a sport fish. They include fish commonly known as bullheads, madtoms, channel catfish, and blue catfish....

 of the order Siluriformes.

Distribution

Originally native to the coastal river systems of the Eastern United States

Eastern United States

The Eastern United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River. The first two tiers of states west of the Mississippi have traditionally been considered part of the West, but can be included in the East today; usually in...

, the catfish spread to other parts of the U.S.

Description

Ictalurus catus has a head with eight barbels, two nasal, two maxillary and four chin. It is scaleless. It has a spine on the anterior edge of its dorsal and pectoral fins. It usually has six dorsal soft rays. It does not have palatine teeth.
It typically weighs between 1/2 lb.

Habitat

Ictalurus catus is found throughout the U.S. It prefers sluggish, mud-bottom pools and backwaters of rivers and streams, and does well in lakes and large impoundments.

Feeding

White catfish feed mostly on the bottom where they eat other fish and aquatic insects. They feed most actively at dusk and through the night mostly on bottom dwelling insects, worms, amphipods, and other small invertebrates.

Reproduction

Reproduction occurs from April to July when the water temperature ranges between 65 and 75°F. A gelatinous mass of eggs is deposited in a cavity created by hollow logs or undercut banks. The male guards the nest and incubates the eggs by continually fanning fresh water over them.