Appearance
The flathead catfish grows to a length of 155 cm and may weigh up to 56 kg, making it the second-largest North American catfish. The average length is about 25-46 in. Its maximum recorded lifespan is 24 years. Males are mature from 16 cm and 4 years of age, while females mature from 18 cm and 5 years of age, but may mature as late as 10 years. The world angling record flathead catfish was caught May 14, 1998, from Elk City Reservoir, Kansas, and weighed 123 lb 9 oz. However, a record from 1982, caught by "other methods", shows that the flathead catfish would be North Americas longest species of catfish, after a specimen pulled from the Arkansas River measured 175 cm and weighed 63.45 kg.Naming
The flathead catfish is also known as the yellow cat, mud cat, Johnnie cat, "goujon", "appaluchion", "opelousas", pied cat and Mississippi cat.The closest living relative of the flathead catfish is the much smaller widemouth blindcat, "Satan eurystomus".
Distribution
The native range of the flathead catfish includes a broad area west of the Appalachian Mountains encompassing large rivers of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio basins. The range extends as far north as Canada, as far west as Texas, and south to the Gulf of Mexico including northeastern Mexico.Habitat
The flathead catfish cannot live in full-strength seawater, but it can survive in 10 ppt for a while and thrive in up to about 5 ppt.Reproduction
Spawning of "P. olivaris" occurs in late June and early July, and the nests are made in areas with submerged logs and other debris. The males, which also build the nests, fiercely and tirelessly defend and fan the clutch. The size of the clutch varies proportionately to the size of the female; an average of 2,640 eggs per kilogram of fish are laid.The fry frequent shallow areas with rocky and sandy substrates, where they feed on insects and worms such as annelids and polychaetes. Young flathead catfish are also cannibalistic, which has largely precluded their presence in aquaculture.
Food
The flathead catfish prefers live prey. It is a voracious carnivore and feeds primarily on fishes, insects, annelid worms, and crustaceans. It also feeds on other small catfish and almost anything that moves and makes vibration. They are known to eat crayfish, American gizzard shad, insects and larvae, channel catfish, drum, other flatheads, green sunfish, and carp. Insect larvae are the major prey type until an individual reaches approximately 100 mm in total length, at which point the diet expands to include crayfish and small fishes. Individuals above 250 mm in length feed almost exclusively on other fishes.References:
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