Skip to content

Cave Biology Data Portal

Subterranean biodiversity of North America and around the globe

  • ExploreExpand
    • Species
    • Taxonomy
    • States and Provinces
    • Karst Regions
    • Caves You Can Visit
  • ResourcesExpand
    • Funding Opportunities
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Meeting and Events
    • Public Notices
    • News and Updates
  • ContributeExpand
    • Report an Observation
    • Add a Photograph or Image
    • Post an Event
    • Post an Opportunity
    • Add a Reference
    • Add a New Species
    • Report a Correction
  • AboutExpand
    • Acknowledgments
    • Data Sensitivity Policy
    • Citation and Licensing
  • ContactExpand
    • Data Requests
Cave Biology Data Portal
Subterranean biodiversity of North America and around the globe
AnimaliaChordataVertebrataActinopterygiiSiluriformesIctaluridaeIctalurus

Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque, 1818)

Taxonomy

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Siluriformes
Family Ictaluridae
Genus Ictalurus
Species Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque, 1818)

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, Florida

Counties

Alabama
Morgan
Florida
Marion, Putnam

Conservation and management

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

EXEWCRENVUNTLC▲

Assessed in 2013.

NatureServe

G5 Secure

G1G2G3G4G5▲

National ranks

Canada
N5 Secure
United States
N5 Secure

Subnational ranks

Manitoba
S5 Secure
Saskatchewan
S2 Imperiled
Quebec
S5 Secure
Ontario
S4 Apparently Secure
West Virginia
S5 Secure
Louisiana
S5 Secure
Ohio
S5 Secure
District of Columbia
SNA Not Applicable
New York
S5 Secure
California
SNA Not Applicable
Vermont
S4 Apparently Secure
Kentucky
S4 Apparently Secure
Arizona
SNA Not Applicable
Nevada
SNA Not Applicable
Connecticut
SNA Not Applicable
Minnesota
SNR Unranked
Michigan
S5 Secure
Tennessee
S5 Secure
North Carolina
SNA Not Applicable
Mississippi
S5 Secure
NE
S5 Secure
Pennsylvania
S5 Secure
Virginia
S4 Apparently Secure
Indiana
S5 Secure
NJ
S4 Apparently Secure
Kansas
S5 Secure
Maryland
SNA Not Applicable
Iowa
S5 Secure
Illinois
S5 Secure
Wyoming
S5 Secure
NN
SNA Not Applicable
South Carolina
S5 Secure
Montana
S5 Secure
NH
SNA Not Applicable
Oklahoma
SNR Unranked
Missouri
SNR Unranked
Florida
SNR Unranked
Wisconsin
S5 Secure
Alabama
S5 Secure
Georgia
S5 Secure
Texas
S5 Secure
Colorado
SNA Not Applicable
Utah
SNA Not Applicable
Washington
SNA Not Applicable
Idaho
SNA Not Applicable
Massachusetts
SNA Not Applicable
South Dakota
S5 Secure
ND
SNR Unranked
New Mexico
S5 Secure
Arkansas
S4 Apparently Secure
Oregon
SNA Not Applicable
RI
SNA Not Applicable
DE
SNA Not Applicable

State and federal status

Not listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act

References

  • Morris, T.L. 2006. A biological inventory of aquifer caves in Florida with special emphasis on troglobitic crustaceans and salamanders. Final report S0057 to Florida Department of Environmental Regulation. Karst Environmental Services, Inc., High Springs, Florida, USA. 44 pp.
  • Niemiller, M.L., Anderson, C.L., Maxwell, E.C., Midgette, H., Quering, C., Richards, M., Wilson, K. & Wirwa, N. 2025. 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

How to cite this account

Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque, 1818). Cave Biology Data Portal, account SP-1780. https://cavebiology.org/species/ictalurus-punctatus/ (accessed 6 September 2026).

Data sources and funding are listed in the Acknowledgments.

Spotted something wrong on this page? Report a correction. Accounts are compiled from many sources and corrections from people who know the group are the most useful email we get.

Cave Biology Data Portal

Species accounts, distributions, and conservation status for the subterranean fauna of North America and around the globe, with resources for the cave and karst research community.

Text and data CC BY 4.0. Images all rights reserved unless stated.

Explore

  • Browse
  • Taxonomy

Resources

  • Funding
  • Employment
  • Contribute

About this site

  • About Us
  • Acknowledgments
  • Contact Us
  • Data Sensitivity Policy
  • Citation and Licensing
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Explore
    • Species
    • Taxonomy
    • States and Provinces
    • Karst Regions
    • Caves You Can Visit
  • Resources
    • Funding Opportunities
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Meeting and Events
    • Public Notices
    • News and Updates
  • Contribute
    • Report an Observation
    • Add a Photograph or Image
    • Post an Event
    • Post an Opportunity
    • Add a Reference
    • Add a New Species
    • Report a Correction
  • About
    • Acknowledgments
    • Data Sensitivity Policy
    • Citation and Licensing
  • Contact
    • Data Requests