E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Wildlife of British Columbia

Darkly pigmented barbels, weak serrations along the posterier edge of the pectoral spine, and 15-19 anal rays. In BC, adults are black above and white or lemon yellow below. Juveniles are also black above and white below. This species can be confused with the brown bullhead (Ameirurus nevulosus) and the yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis), however adults can be separated by the development of serrations on the trailing edge of the pectoral spines, which are absent on brown and yellow bullhead. For further infoormation see McPhail (2007). (Source: McPhail, J. D. 2007. The Freshwater Fishes of British Columbia. The University of Alberta Press. 620 p.)

This is an introduced eastern North American species. In B.C., black bullheads typically occur in altered environments that contain a high proportion of non-native species (e.g., the Okanagan drainage system and the Kootenay River near Creston). It is not clear what impacts, if any, the black bullhead has had on our indigenous fishes.

North America: Great Lakes to northern Mexico. Confusion over the taxonomic status of this species together with Ameiurus nebulosus resulted in more doubts as to which of the two is present in some countries. In Europe it forms dense stunted populations which makes it unpopular. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.