Scientific Name
Ameiurus catus

Common Name
White catfish

Biology
Sluggish, mud-bottomed pools, open channels, and backwaters of small to large rivers; also in lakes and impoundments.

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Catfish (Siluriformes)

Family

North American freshwater catfishes (Ictaluridae)

Distribution

Region

North America

Distribution

North America: Rivers of the Atlantic coastal states of USA from Florida to New York.

Range

46°N - 27°N

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

10 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 10 - ? m

Trophic Level

3.78 s.e. 0.60 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

95.0 cm

Common Length

30.5 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5078 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (65 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=3-4; tmax=14; Fec=1,000-4,000)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated