| Family |
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Ictaluridae
Species (popular name): Channel catfish
(scientific name): Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque, 1818) | | |
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| Name in the main European languages |
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I: Pescegatto punteggiato
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F: Poisson chat tacheté
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E: Coto punteado
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D: Getüpfelter, Gabelwels
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| Max. size |
Kg: 1,5
cm: 50 |
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| Period of reproduction |
| Spring/Summer |
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| Description |
| A medium-large size fish, it has a strong body, much more slender than the common black bullhead. It is quite easy to identify by its silver-grey overall colouring with black dotting, and its tail whose edge is slightly forked. The pectoral and dorsal fins have their first ray sharpened and thorn-shaped, particularly strong in the pectoral fins. Be careful, then, when you handle it. Its mouth is wide, in a lower position; its lips are fleshy, the upper lip clearly jutting out. It has four pairs of barbels of different lengths, which are typical of catfish. |
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| Biology |
| Of North American origins, for a few years it has been present in some fish-breeding plants in the centre and north of Italy. In its country of origin, it represents the main product for freshwater pisciculture. Unlike the common black bullhead, it prefers to live in clear, deep, quite cold slow waters. Sexual maturity comes late: males reach it after 5 years, females even after 8 years. Reproduction takes place at a temperature of 18°C; the male digs a sort of "nest" into the bottom and the female lays 7,000-9,000 eggs per kg of live weight covered with a gelatinous substance. The eggs in the nest are usually guarded by the male, that provides to ventilate them, clean them and protect them from predators. The eggs are about 3 mm long and cream-coloured; at a temperature of 21-24°C they hatch in 5-10 days. Male look after the fries until they are 4-5 cm long, as for the common black bullhead. A voracious species, when it is young it feeds mainly on bottom invertebrates, while adults prefer fish. It is long-lived, at least in its country of origin, where forty-years-old specimen were reported. |
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| Fishing |
| Its flesh is tasty and well-appreciated. However, in Italy fishing is limited to fishing centres. It has been rarely reported in open waters. . |
| Acquaculture |
| As we mentioned above, it is reared only in a few plants, mainly in northern Italy. |
| Curiosity |
| The English name "Channel catfish" derives from its habit, as a good simmer, to remain in the central part of the riverbed, "canalised" in the stream. |
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