: While white catfish can reach a length of 60 cm (2 ft.), they typically don't grow larger than 33 cm (13 in.). They are found in all Chesapeake Bay tributaries, and the survey has collected them from freshwater to water with a salinity of 23.5 parts per thousand.
: Members of the family Ictaluridae, such as the white catfish, have four pairs of barbels around their mouth. These barbels contain external taste buds, enabling catfish to taste something by merely touching it with their barbel.
: White catfish feed on fishes, insects, plants, and crustaceans. If you look closely, you can see the caudal fin of a fish inside of this catfish's mouth.
White catfish (Ameiurus catus)
- This species first recruits to the survey gear in June.
- The Young-of-Year cutoff values are:
- June: 0-50 mm.
- July: 0-65 mm.
- August: 0-80 mm.
- September: 0-90 mm.
- October: 0-100 mm.
- November: 0-110 mm.
- December: 0-110 mm.
- January: 0-110 mm.
- February: 0-110 mm.
- March: 0-110 mm.
- April: 0-110 mm.
- May: 0-120 mm.
- YOY Index months are in bold.
- The primary index is for Age 0 fish. The index is calculated during the first
four months of the calendar year following the actual year of spawning. - Because white catfish are restricted in their distribution, an index of abundance is calculated for each tributary. Only stations in the upper portions of the rivers are used.
- The Age 1+ index for this species contains several year classes. It may be possible to split out individual age groups in the future.
White catfish Excel file (juveniles)
White catfish Excel file (age 1+)
