AquaticRepublic.com - Ameiurus serracanthus (Ictaluridae) All Fishes

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Ameiurus serracanthus** (Yerger & Relyea, 1968)
Common Names	Spotted Bullhead Hvidplettet Dværgmalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Northern shore of Lake Talquin, 6.8 miles west-southwest of Ochlockonee River, Gadsden County, Florida, U.S.A.
Synonym(s)	Ictalurus serracanthus
Pronunciation	Ai MEE you russ
Etymology	Ameiurus: ''curtailed'' refers to the lack of a deep notch in the caudal fin. This specific epithet, serracanthus, refers to the serrated pectoral spine.
Species Information
Size	280mm or 11" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	One of the easier ictalurids to recognize. It has a relatively dark body with many small bold white spots which no other bullhead has. There is a dark oval blotch at the base of the dorsal fin. The upper jaw is longer than the lower jaw. Caudal fin and the relatively short rounded anal fin have a distinct narrow black margin. Not to be confused with the southern mottled form of Ameiurus nebulosus.
Sexing	Females are much fuller bodied during breeding season. This occurs during early spring.
General Remarks	A spectacular looking fish. A great catfish to keep for those looking for a smaller predatory fish. In the wild, it has a limited distribution and is not commonly found even in its own range.
Habitat Information
Distribution	North America: Gulf Coastal Plain in Suwannee, St. Marks, Ochlockonee, Apalachicola and St. Andrews Bay drainages of northern Florida, southern Georgia and southeastern Alabama in the USA. North American Atlantic Drainages, Florida waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) North American Atlantic Drainages, Southern Georgia Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2011.
pH	6.6 - 8.4
Temperature	15.0-24.0°C or 59-75.2°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Very tolerant generally even towards brackish water.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Omnivorous. Diet includes fish, aquatic invertebrates and some green matter. User data.
Furniture	A sand substrate with stones and large piece of driftwood to hide under during the day is very desirable.
Compatibility	Social with most anything they can not swallow, to be on the safe side do not house with anything less than half it's own size.
Breeding	Not known in the aquarium.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Copeia 1968 (no. 2), pp 373, Fig. 4.
Registered Keepers	There is no registered keeper.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 3 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode

	Look up A. serracanthus on PlanetCatfish.com
	Look up A. serracanthus on Fishbase
	Look up A. serracanthus on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up A. serracanthus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.5.20.1089
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:19 (species record created: 2003 Aug 23 00:00)