Black bullhead Native

The black bullhead (Ameiurus melas) is a small catfish native to Michigan and common throughout the central United States. It typically reaches 6û14 inches and 1û2 pounds, rarely exceeding 4 pounds. The species is easily identified by its black or dark barbels, dark olive-to-black back, pale yellow belly, and a distinctive tan or white crescent at the base of its squared tail fin. Like all catfish, it lacks scales ù instead, it has roughly 100,000 taste receptors spread across its body, helping it locate food in murky water. The black bullhead is one of the most tolerant freshwater fish in Michigan, thriving in warm, low-oxygen, turbid conditions that would stress most other species. It favors slow-moving or still water with soft, muddy bottoms ù shallow lakes, ponds, oxbows, and sluggish streams. Nocturnal by nature, it feeds at night on midge larvae, aquatic insects, plant matter, crustaceans, and small fish. Spawning occurs from April through June, with both parents guarding a shallow nest depression and the eggs until fry are about an inch long.

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