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MPCA Home > Kids > Minnesota
Fish > Black Bullhead
Black Bullhead Coloring Sheet
All
about Black Bullheads
What's In a Name?
Common Name:
Black bullhead -- refers to the overall color of the fish and the shape of
its head.
Scientific Name:
Ameiurus (ah-mee´-ur-us) means "tapering snout" in
Latin
melas (mel´-ahs) means "black" in Latin
Where Do They Live?
The black bullhead is common throughout Minnesota. It is found in
quiet river backwaters, impoundments, ponds, lakes, and slow moving
streams typically over soft bottoms consisting of mud and sand. It
is a hardy fish that tolerates turbid (muddy) water, warm temperatures,
and low oxygen concentrations. The black bullhead can tolerate conditions
many other types of fish cannot.
How Big Do They Get?
The black bullhead is Minnesota's smallest bullhead (the yellow and
brown bullhead are also found in Minnesota). It is common for them
to reach about 6 to 10 inches in length. The state record in Minnesota
is 3 lb., 13 oz., which was caught in Reno Lake in Pope County. Black
bullheads generally live 3 to 5 years.
What Do They Eat?
This bottom dweller is considered a scavenger (eats dead things) and
an opportunist (eats whatever comes its way) including insects, small
fishes, frogs, crayfish, and plant material.
What Eats Them?
Black bullheads have large, sharp spines at the front of their dorsal
(top) and pectoral (side) fins. When bothered, they lock them in a
straight-out position making them very hard to swallow. These spines
and the fishes' preference for eating mostly at night make black bullheads
an uncommon prey for other fish. Their most common predator is people.
Anglers can easily catch them because they will bite on most bait and
many anglers find them a tasty treat when taken from clean water.
"Cool Fact"
There are an estimated 100,000 taste buds covering the body of a
bullhead, but are particularly concentrated on the barbels (whiskers).
Credits: Photograph by Konrad P. Schmidt. Text modified from Bell
Museum of Natural History, Fishes
of Minnesota Web site (Nicole Paulson & Jay T. Hatch authors)
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