Ameiurus platycephalus
Flat Bullhead
Larry Page
Identification
As the name suggests, the Flat Bullhead has a flat head. The rear edge of the pectoral spine lacks sawlike teeth, and the snout has a fairly straight profile. The body is gold-yellow to dark brown above and dusky cream to white below. The sides are mottled and speckled with dark brown, and the fins are dusky black. There is a large dark blotch at the base of the dorsal fin base. The dorsal, anal, adipose, and caudal fins are edged in black. The anal fin is short, with 21-24 rays. The first gill arch has 11-13 rakers. To 11 1/4 in. (29 cm) total length.
Range
The Flat Bullhead is found in streams on the Atlantic Piedmont and Coastal Plain from the Roanoke River in Virginia to the Altamaha River drainage in Georgia. The species is generally uncommon.
Distribution of Ameiurus platycephalus. © Larry Page
Habitat
The Flat Bullhead lives in pools of small to large rivers with beds of mud, sand, or rock, and in lakes, ponds and impoundments.
Similar Species
The Snail Bullhead, A. brunneus, has little or no mottling on the side, a rounded snout, a shorter anal fin with 17-20 rays, and 14-17 gill rakers. The Spotted Bullhead, A. serracanthus, has light round spots on a dark body, a black-edged pectoral fin, and large sawlike teeth on the back of the pectoral spine.
Title Illustrations
| Scientific Name | Ameiurus platycephalus |
|---|---|
| Location | Twitty's Cr., Charlotte Co., VA |
| Specimen Condition | Dead Specimen |
| Identified By | R. E. Jenkins |
| Life Cycle Stage | Adult |
| Size | 76 mm SL |
| Copyright | © R. E. Jenkins |
About This Page
Larry Page
Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida, USA
Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Larry Page at and Griffin Sheehy at
Page copyright © 2007 Larry Page
All Rights Reserved.
- First online 23 May 2007
- Content changed 23 May 2007
Citing this page:
Page, Larry. 2007. Ameiurus platycephalus . Flat Bullhead. Version 23 May 2007 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Ameiurus_platycephalus/69834/2007.05.23 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
