Brown Bullhead catfish are easily recognized by their scaleless skin and four pairs of long, slender barbels around the mouth. They have a special fin on their lower back called an adipose fin. They are important sport and food fishes and have been introduced throughout North America. Brown Bullheads have spinelike rays in the pectoral and dorsal fins. Their sticky eggs are deposited in rocky crevices and guarded by the parents for several days after hatching. In the early summer you may see dense clouds of baby Bullheads being guarded by their parents in shallow water.

Look For: A chunky, medium-size catfish with a squarish tail and black chin barbels. Mottled, olive-brown above, lighter below. Large, irregular "teeth" on pectoral spines.


Length: 18".

Habitat: Lakes, ponds, slow-moving freshwater streams.

Range: Southeastern Canada and eastern U.S.; widely introduced.