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Bigmouth Buffalo
Ictiobus cyprinellus
At-a-Glance
• Family: Catostomidae (Suckers)
• Other Names: Buffalo Sucker
• Ohio Status: No special status
• Adult Size: Typically 15-30 inches, can get to 40 inches. Usually weighs 3-30 pounds but can reach 60 pounds.
• Typical Foods: Filters bottom sediment for small crustaceans, insects, and other invertebrates. |
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Description
Bigmouth buffalo are carp-like in shape, but have a terminal (straight forward pointing) mouth, and are not closely related to carp. The upper lip is level with the eye. In all other species of buffalo the upper lip is well below the eye. Their body color is generally slate gray to brown and their fins are a darker brown to almost black. Bigmouth buffalo and other species of suckers do not have barbells near the mouth like carp.
Habitat and Habits
The bigmouth buffalo is native to Ohio, and found in both the Ohio River and Lake Erie drainage. It is typically found in large rivers including the Ohio River and others such as the, Scioto River, Muskingum River, Maumee River, and Sandusky River. It is also found in the marshes of Sandusky Bay and other similar backwater areas of the Western basin of Lake Erie. Bigmouth buffalo prefer waters with less current than other species of Buffalo and are typically found in pools or backwater areas when in rivers.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
Bigmouth buffalo spawn during March and early May. They migrate into small streams or even ditches to spawn where they randomly scatter their eggs over the bottom in shallow water. Females can lay up to 400,000 eggs. |
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