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The North American catfishes are scaleless fishes with a spinous ray in the front of the dorsal fin and each pectoral fin. They possess long, sensory barbels around the mouth. Catfishes are further characterized by the presence of an adipose dorsal fin behind the first dorsal fin. The Ictaluridae are restricted to fresh waters in North America from southern Canada to Guatemala. There are about 65 species. Local catfishes are divided into four groups, the flathead catfish (genus Pylodictis), madtoms (Noturus), bullheads (Ameiurus), and the channel catfish (Ictalurus). The madtoms can inflict a painful wound with the pectoral spines and their associated venom glands. The channel catfish and most madtoms inhabit rather rapidly flowing waters; bullheads and flathead catfishes are usually in slowly moving waters. All are spring spawners. One or both bullhead parents guard their eggs and young. The flathead catfish attains a weight in excess of 50 lbs in our waters and the channel catfish may exceed 40 lbs. Catfishes are omnivorous and feed largely on invertebrates, including aquatic insects and their larvae. Catfishes tend to be nocturnal and benthic.
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