FISHES 



87 



29 rays: Great Lakes region, Gulf slope and Mississippi Valley regions; 

 generally abundant in the channels of large streams. 



I. anguilla Evermann & Kendall. Eel cat. Length 450 mm.; 

 color pale bluish or yellowish: Mississippi Valley from northern Illinois 

 to Louisiana. 





Fig. 39. — Anal and caudal fins of Iclalurus furcalus {from Fishes of Illinois). 



2. Villarius Rutter. Caudal fin lunate or forked; body similar to 

 Ameiurus; size large; supraoccipital process prolonged posteriorly, but 

 not reaching the dorsal fin: several species. 



V. lacustris (Walbaum). Great Lakes catfish. Length up to 

 1,500 mm.; average weight 8 lbs.; extreme weight 40 lbs.; head 4; depth 

 5; color slaty; sides paler; rays of dorsal fin I, 5; anal 25 to 32; tail 

 deeply forked : Great Lakes basin and large lakes and rivers northwards. 



V. catus (L.). White cat. Length 600 mm.; head 3.8; color pale 

 bluish, without spots, but sometimes mottled; anal fin with about 

 19 rays; tail deeply forked; head very broad and mouth very large: 



Fig. 40. — Anal and caudal fins of Iclalurus puncLalus {from Fishes of Illinois). 



eastern States from New York to Texas; introduced into California; 

 very common in coastwise streams and swamps. 



3. Ameiurus Rafinesque. Small catfish and bullheads. Body 

 rather stout; head broad; mouth large; rays of dorsal fin about I, 6; anal 

 24 to 27; tail usually convex or truncate; barbels 8: premaxillary teeth 



