Other Names For Flathead Catfish

The flathead catfish pylodictis olivaris also called by several common names including mudcat or shovelhead cat is a large species of north american freshwater catfish in the family ictaluridae.

Other names for flathead catfish. The flathead catfish are known to reach 100 pounds and specimens that are 5 to 50 pounds are regarded as common. Blue catfish channel catfish and flathead catfish are the three primary species of catfish in the united states and most sought after species. Flathead catfish reach a length of 3 to 4 feet 0 9 to 1 2 m and their weight can exceed 100 pounds 45 kg. The variety of names which have been applied to the flathead catfish are many and have often caused some confusion.

Depending on what part of the world you are from here is a list of some of the common names for the flathead. Pylodictis is greek meaning mud fish and olivaris is latin for olive colored. Yellow cat shovelhead mud cat tabby cat morgan cat appaloosa cat appaluchian johnnie cat goujon opelousas cat op cat bashaw russian cat granny cat pied cat flatbelly and mississippi cat. Flathead color varies greatly with the environment and sometimes within the same environment but is generally mottled with varying shades of brown and yellow on the sides tapering to a lighter or whitish mottling on the belly.

Flathead catfish are typically pale yellow hence the name yellow cat to light brown on the back and sides and highly mottled with black and or brown. The flathead catfish is also known as the yellow cat mud cat johnnie cat goujon appaluchion opelousas pied cat and mississippi cat. Tail only slightly notched and adipose fin is relatively large. Without a doubt the flathead catfish has more aliases than any other fish probably beating out even the infamous choupique two of the more common names are yellow catfish and opelousas catfish.

This species has a few other common names like shovelhead cat yellow cat mud cat and pied cat. Around here we just call them flatheads. Broadly flattened head with a lower jaw that projects beyond the upper jaw. Their scientific name is pylodictis olivaris where pylodictis is greek for mudfish and olivaris is a latin word that translates to olive colored in english.

It is the only species of the genus pylodictis. Mud cat shovelhead cat yellow cat. Ranging from the lower great lakes region to northern.