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Project Noah Nature School
Ameiurus nobulosus
Medium sized catfish growing to 50cm (20") and up to 3kg. In New Zealand a little smaller than that. Dark brown/olive with irregular blotching on dorsal paling to yellow on ventral side. It has a large head, and wide mouth and 4 pairs of whiskery barbels, a humped back and a dorsal and pectoral fin spine. Also has a small adipose fin.
Native to North America on the eastern side of the Rockies from Canada through to Texas. Introduced into New Zealand in 1877, it has become widespread through the Waikato river system from Lake Taupo through to Hamilton and has invaded several lakes around the general area. It prefers slow moving streams and sandy shallows in lakes. These fish were seen at Hamilton Lake in the city.
No one seems to know why these fish were introduced to NZ. They can grow to huge numbers which must impact their environment. In New Zealand they are not registered as a noxious pest but the legal directive is that once caught they cannot be released back into any waterway. Go figure that one! The fish pictured are young fish collected as part of a census on introduced organisms in the local area. Ref: NZ Department of Conservation - Catfish fact sheet.
Spotted on Nov 28, 2015
Submitted on Dec 9, 2015
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