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Ictiobus bubalus  (Rafinesque, 1818)

Smallmouth buffalo
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Native range | All suitable habitat
This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.
Ictiobus bubalus   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Ictiobus bubalus (Smallmouth buffalo)
Ictiobus bubalus
Picture by The Native Fish Conservancy

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Cypriniformes (Carps) > Catostomidae (Suckers) > Ictiobinae
Etymology: Ictiobus: Greek, ichthys = fish + Greek, bous = cow (Ref. 45335);  bubalus: bubalus, meaning buffalo (Ref. 10294).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Freshwater; demersal.   Temperate; ? - 32°C (Ref. 12741), preferred ?; 50°N - 26°N

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

North America: Lake Michigan drainage and Mississippi River basin from Pennsylvania and Michigan to Montana, USA and south to the Gulf of Mexico; Gulf Slope drainages from Mobile Bay in Alabama to Rio Grande in Texas and New Mexico, USA. Also in Mexico.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 112 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 40637); common length : 58.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193); max. published weight: 37.3 kg (Ref. 40637); max. reported age: 15 years (Ref. 12193)

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Inhabits pools, backwaters and main channels of small to large rivers. Also occurs in lakes and impoundments. Feeds on shellfish and algae, by grinding with the bony plates in its throat (Ref. 9988). Appears to be a good candidate for aquaculture. Marketed fresh and eaten pan-fried, broiled and baked (Ref. 9988).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Assuming same reproductive mode as in Chasmistes.

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p. (Ref. 5723)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless




Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
FAO(Publication : search) | FisheriesWiki | Sea Around Us

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