''Ictiobus'', also known as buffalofish or simply buffalo, is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of freshwater fish native to North America, specifically the United States, Canada, Mexico, and

Guatemala Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by Hon ...

. They are the largest and longest-lived of the North American suckers, reaching up to in length and more than 125 years of age. At up to 127 years for

bigmouth buffalo Bigmouth may refer to: * "Bigmouth", a song by Underworld * Bigmouth, an ogre in ''The Smurfs'' comics and animated cartoon series Marine life * Bigmouth buffalo, fish * Bigmouth goby, fish * Bigmouth skate, fish * Bigmouth rocksnail, snai ...

, they can reach the highest known age for any freshwater

teleost Teleostei (; Greek ''teleios'' "complete" + ''osteon'' "bone"), members of which are known as teleosts ), is, by far, the largest infraclass in the class Actinopterygii, the ray-finned fishes, containing 96% of all extant species of fish. Tele ...

, which is a group of more than 12,000 species. Buffalofish are not

carp Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish from the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. While carp is consumed in many parts of the world, they are generally considered an invasive species in parts of ...

, nor is any other catostomid; they belong to different scientific families having evolved on separate continents. Buffalofish live in most types of freshwater bodies where panfish are found, such as ponds, creeks, rivers, and lakes. ''Ictiobus'' were caught by the

Lewis and Clark Expedition The Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, was the United States expedition to cross the newly acquired western portion of the country after the Louisiana Purchase. The Corps of Discovery was a select gr ...

. From an angler's point of view, buffalofish were historically not a popular

game fish Game fish, sport fish or quarry refer to popular fish pursued by recreational anglers, and can be freshwater or saltwater fish. Game fish can be eaten after being caught, or released after capture. Some game fish are also targeted commercial ...

because they are difficult to catch by hook and line (even though they put up a great fight). However, in the 21st Century new sportfisheries have emerged and have quickly made them easy targets of night

bowfishing Bowfishing is a method of hunting fish that uses specialized archery equipment to lethally shoot and retrieve the animal. Fish are shot with a barbed arrow that is attached with a special line to a reel mounted on a bow or crossbow. Historically ...

. They are now

in practice across much of their range, are in decline, and protective measures are needed.

Species

Five species are placed in the genus: * ''

Ictiobus bubalus The smallmouth buffalo (''Ictiobus bubalus'', from the Greek for "bull-fish" and "buffalo") is a catostomid fish species native to the major tributaries and surrounding waters of the Mississippi River in the United States, as well as some other ...

'' (

Rafinesque Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz (; October 22, 1783September 18, 1840) was a French 19th-century polymath born near Constantinople in the Ottoman Empire and self-educated in France. He traveled as a young man in the United States, ultimat ...

, 1818) (smallmouth buffalo) * ''

Ictiobus cyprinellus ''Ictiobus'', also known as buffalofish or simply buffalo, is a genus of freshwater fish native to North America, specifically the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Guatemala. They are the largest and longest-lived of the North American suckers ...

'' (

Valenciennes Valenciennes (, also , , ; nl, label=also Dutch, Valencijn; pcd, Valincyinnes or ; la, Valentianae) is a commune in the Nord department, Hauts-de-France, France. It lies on the Scheldt () river. Although the city and region experienced a ...

, 1844) (bigmouth buffalo) * ''

Ictiobus labiosus ''Ictiobus'', also known as buffalofish or simply buffalo, is a genus of freshwater fish native to North America, specifically the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Guatemala. They are the largest and longest-lived of the North American suckers ...

'' (

Meek Meekness is an attribute of human nature and behavior that has been defined as an amalgam of righteousness, inner humility, and patience. Meekness has been contrasted with humility alone insomuch as humility simply refers to an attitude towards o ...

, 1904) (fleshylip buffalo) * ''

Ictiobus meridionalis ''Ictiobus'', also known as buffalofish or simply buffalo, is a genus of freshwater fish native to North America, specifically the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Guatemala. They are the largest and longest-lived of the North American suckers ...

'' ( Günther, 1868) (Usumacinta buffalo) * ''

Ictiobus niger The black buffalo (''Ictiobus niger'') is a North American species of freshwater fish in the Catostomidae or sucker family.* . At 56 years old for one specimen's age, it is one of the longest-lived catostomids. Found in the Mississippi Basin ...

'' (

, 1819) (black buffalo)

References

External links

Ictiobinae Research - Ictiobus
* In

Héctor Tobar Héctor Tobar (born 1963, Los Angeles) is a Los Angeles author and journalist, whose work examines the evolving and interdependent relationship between Latin America and the United States. Life Tobar is the son of Guatemalan immigrants. His ...

's 2010 nove
''Barbarian Nurseries''
James "Sweet Hands" Washington remains as the only African-American in a now Hispanic neighborhood because " ecould still take a couple of buses and find the last place in South Los Angeles that served Louisiana buffalo fish." (p. 182) *
Bizarre Foods Season 9 Episodes 7 Magnificent Mississippi River
Catostomidae Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque {{Catostomidae-stub

Species

See also

References

External links