Black Bullhead
Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque, 1820)
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Subphylum | Vertebrata |
| Class | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Siluriformes |
| Family | Ictaluridae |
| Genus | Ameiurus |
| Species | Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque, 1820) |
Description
Diagnostic characters
- Ecological class
- Stygoxene
- Realm
- Aquatic
Distribution
Range
Known from three counties across two states.
Continent
North America
Country
United States
States and provinces
Alabama, Illinois
Counties
- Alabama
- Madison, Morgan
- Illinois
- Monroe
Conservation and management
IUCN Red List
LC Least Concern
Assessed in 2013.
NatureServe
G5 Secure
National ranks
- Canada
- N5 Secure
- United States
- N5 Secure
Subnational ranks
- Saskatchewan
- S3 Vulnerable
- Ontario
- S4 Apparently Secure
- British Columbia
- SNA Not Applicable
- Manitoba
- S5 Secure
- New Mexico
- S3 Vulnerable
- Colorado
- S5 Secure
- Wisconsin
- S5 Secure
- California
- SNA Not Applicable
- North Carolina
- SNA Not Applicable
- Tennessee
- S5 Secure
- Navajo Nation
- SNA Not Applicable
- Illinois
- S5 Secure
- Connecticut
- SNA Not Applicable
- Nebraska
- S5 Secure
- Louisiana
- S5 Secure
- Nevada
- SNA Not Applicable
- Ohio
- S5 Secure
- Oklahoma
- SNR Unranked
- South Carolina
- SNA Not Applicable
- Maryland
- SNR Unranked
- Arkansas
- S4 Apparently Secure
- Kentucky
- S4 Apparently Secure
- Arizona
- SNA Not Applicable
- Minnesota
- SNR Unranked
- Missouri
- SNR Unranked
- Oregon
- SNA Not Applicable
- Texas
- S5 Secure
- North Dakota
- SNR Unranked
- Kansas
- S5 Secure
- Pennsylvania
- SU Unrankable
- Mississippi
- S5 Secure
- Utah
- SNA Not Applicable
- Massachusetts
- SNA Not Applicable
- Indiana
- S4 Apparently Secure
- West Virginia
- S1 Critically Imperiled
- Wyoming
- S5 Secure
- Georgia
- S4 Apparently Secure
- Montana
- SNA Not Applicable
- Virginia
- S4 Apparently Secure
- Iowa
- S5 Secure
- South Dakota
- S5 Secure
- Washington
- SNA Not Applicable
- Alabama
- S5 Secure
- Idaho
- SNA Not Applicable
- Michigan
- S5 Secure
- New York
- S1 Critically Imperiled
- New Jersey
- SNA Not Applicable
Ranks looked up 2 August 2026. Conservation status changes, and a rank here is as current as that date and no more.
State and federal status
Not listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
References
- Armstrong, J.G. & Williams, J.D. 1971. Cave and spring fishes of the southern bend of the Tennessee River. Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science 46: 107–115.
- Niemiller, M.L., Anderson, C.L., Maxwell, E.C., Midgette, H., Quering, C., Richards, M., Wilson, K. & Wirwa, N. 2025b. A noteworthy range extension of the federally endangered Alabama Cave Shrimp (Palaemonias alabamae) south of the Tennessee River in northern Alabama. Southeastern Naturalist 24: N47-N58. doi:10.1656/058.024.0403
- Rheams, K.F., Moser, P.H. & McGregor, S.W. 1992. Geologic, hydrologic, and biologic investigations in Arrowwood, Bobcat, Matthews, and Shelta caves and selected caves, Madison, County, Alabama. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 262 pp.
- Rheams, K.F., Moser, P.H. & McGregor, S.W. 1994. Hydrogeologic and biologic factors related to the occurrence of the Alabama cave shrimp (Palaemonias alabamae), Madison County, Alabama. Geological Survey of Alabama Bulletin 161: 1–147.
- Webb, D.W., Taylor, S.J. & Krejca, J.K. 1993. The biological resources of Illinois caves and other subterranean environments. Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, Illinois, USA. 143 pp.
This account was last revised 6 September 2026. Conservation ranks were looked up 2 August 2026.
How to cite this account
Data sources and funding are listed in the Acknowledgments.
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