Headwater Catfish, Ictalurus lupus

Headwater Catfish, lcutalurus lupus. Fish caught from Independence Creek, Sheffield, Texas, February 2022. Length: 29 cm (11 inches). Catch, photograph, and identification courtesy of Chris Moore, Peoria, Arizona.

Headwater Catfish, lcutalurus lupus. Fish caught from the Independence Creek, Sheffield, Texas. June 2021. Length: 31 cm (12 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Luke Ovgard, Klamath Falls, Oregon.

The Headwater Catfish, Ictalurus lupus, is a member of the North American Catfish or Ictaluridae Family, that is also known as the Channel Cat and in Mexico as bagre lobo. There are ten species in the genus Ictalurus, all of which are found in the freshwater systems of Mexico.

The Headwater Catfish has an elongated and easily recognizable “catfish” body. Their back and sides are olivaceous with a few scattered, diffuse black spots on the sides, transitioning to silvery ventrally. Their head and snout are rounded that has a subterminal mouth with a projecting upper jaw that is equipped with a premaxillary band of teeth on the upper jaw. They have thin, short, barbels located immediately in front of the posterior nostril; their maxillary barbels exceed the length of the head; and, their chin has a transverse row of four barbels with the outside pair being longer than the inside pair. Their adipose fin is free at the tip; their anal fin has 23 to 26 rays; their caudal fin is deeply forked; their dorsal fin has 1 spine and 5 to 8 rays; their pectoral fins have 1 spine and 8 to 10 rays; and their pelvic fins have 8 rays. Their lateral line is complete terminating at the base of the caudal rays.

The Headwater Catfish is very similar to and easily confused with the Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (larger, lacks spotting, less forked tail and a narrower head, mouth, and snout) and the Yaqui Catfish, Ictalurus pricei (very dark dorsally; jet back barbels).

The Headwater Catfish is a freshwater demersal species that is found in rivers and streams that have a moderate gradient and pools, springs, and clear creeks with riffles and runs, and pools over sandy and rocky substrate. They are dimorphic with the being larger than the females that reach a maximum of 43 cm (17 inches) in length. They are primarily a particulate herbivore and benthic invertivore that feed on the bottom on fishes, insects, and plants. Of all the Catfishes the Headwater Catfish is one of the least known or studied Catfish in North America.

The Headwater Catfish has a limited distribution being found within the Atlantic Slope of northeast Mexico in Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas.

From a conservation perspective the Headwater Catfish is currently considered to be of Data Deficient however, their known ranges and populations have recently declined significantly which has been attributed with habitat alternations, reservoir construction, and competition from the Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. They are currently considered to be of Special Concern in the states of New Mexico and Texas.