Yellow Bullhead

The yellow bullhead, (Ameiurus natalis) is a species of bullhead catfish. Yellow bullhead are typically yellow-olive to slatey-black on the back and sometimes mottled depending on habitat. The sides are lighter and more yellowish while the underside of the head and body are bright yellow, yellow white, or bright white. The rear edge of its caudal fin may be rounded or nearly straight. The yellow bullhead is distinguished from the brown bullhead and black bullhead by its white barbels.

The yellow bullhead is a voracious scavenger typically feeding at night on a variety of plant and animal material, both live and dead, including small fish, crayfish, insects, snails, and worms. Its habitat includes river pools, backwaters, and sluggish current over soft or mildly rocky substrate in creeks, small to larger rivers, and shallow portions of lakes and ponds usually preferring clear water. The yellow bullhead may grow to 18 inches and weigh up to 2 pounds and sometimes more. On average, the yellow bullhead can live up to 7 years.

Spawning begins in May and June with both sexes participating in nest building. The nest may be under a log or stone or in a similarly enclosed burrow. The female will lay 2,000 to 7,000 eggs. The eggs hatch within 5 to 10 days. The parents guard the fry until July or August. Yellow bullhead range throughout the central and eastern US from central Texas, north into North Dakota, and east through the Great Lakes region to the east coast. They are considered a "trash fish" typically with the exception of the Midwest area of the United States where they are popular food fish when available, they are seldom sought for sport, although they fight relatively hard for their size.