Flathead Catfish

Scientific name: Pylodictis olivaris (Rafinesque, 1819)

Common names: Flathead catfish, yellow catfish, mud catfish, shovelhead catfish, johnnie cat, goujon, Opelousas catfish, flatbelly catfish, Mississippi catfish

Native To: Mississippi and Gulf drainages (Fofonoff et al. 2003)

Date of U.S. Introduction: Stocked to non-native waters beginning in 1950s (Brown et al. 2005)

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Means of Introduction: Intentionally stocked in rivers and holding ponds (Fofonoff et al. 2003)

Impact: Preys on native species (Fofonoff et al. 2003)

Current U.S. Distribution: Western U.S.; Atlantic Coast (NAS Database map)

Management Plans: Aquatic Species

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

Pylodictis olivaris
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Flathead Catfish - ACE Basin Species Gallery
DOC. NOAA. Coastal Service Center.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Habitat

Pylodictis olivaris Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (resources)

Pylodictis - Aquatic Nuisance Species Research Program
DOD. USACE. Engineer Research and Development Center. Environmental Laboratory.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Flathead Catfish - Nonnative Aquatic Species Profiles
DOI. Bureau of Reclamation. Phoenix Area Office.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution

Habitat Suitability Index Models: Flathead Catfish (PDF | 3.33 MB)
DOI. FWS. National Ecology Research Center.
Habitat; Distribution

Pylodictis olivaris - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database
DOI. USGS. Southeast Ecological Science Center.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Special Note: Distribution maps and collection information (State and County)

Pylodictis olivaris - National Exotic Marine and Estuarine Species Information System, Chesapeake Bay Introduced Species Database
Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion

Flathead Catfish
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustration; Introduction History; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution

Flathead Catfish
University of Georgia. Marine Programs.
Identification/Description; Photograph; Illustration; Introduction History

Hungry Flathead Catfish a Danger to Native N.C. Fish Species - News Release (Oct 1, 2002)
North Carolina State University.
Photograph; Impacts; Habitat; Controls

Flathead Catfish (PDF | 311 KB)
Pennsylvania Sea Grant.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: See also Introduced Flathead Catfish Pilot Study (PDF | 782 KB)

Flathead Catfish - Aquatic Invasive Species of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Sea Grant and Penn State Erie - The Behrend College.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Pylodictis olivaris - Invasive Species Compendium
Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International (CABI).
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Pylodictis olivaris (fish) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Flathead Catfish - Species Summary
Fishbase.org.
Taxonomy; Photographs; Illustrations; Habitat

Pylodictis olivaris - Comprehensive Report
NatureServe Explorer.
Taxonomy; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Special Note: References

Citations

Brown, J.J., J. Perillo, T.J. Kwak, and R.J. Horwitz. 2005. Implications of Pylodictis olivaris (flathead catfish) introduction into the Delaware and Susquehanna drainages. Northeastern Naturalist 12(4):473-484.

Fofonoff, P.W., G.M. Ruiz, B. Steves, A.H. Hines, and J.T. Carlton. 2003. Pylodictis olivaris. In: National Exotic Marine and Estuarine Species Information System: Chesapeake Bay Introduced Species Database