Fauna
Fish

Smallmouth Buffalo

Ictiobus bubalus

Also known as Razorback Buffalo, Roachback, Brown Buffalo

Smallmouth buffalo cruise the bottoms of large river channels and quiet backwaters, using their downward-turned, sucker-like mouths to vacuum up benthic invertebrates and detritus. Extraordinary longevity studies have revealed they can live well past one hundred years, reproducing slowly and intermittently over decades. Although native and ecologically vital across the Mississippi drainage, they are frequently confused with invasive carp and face intense harvest pressure.

FreshwaterLong-livedBottom-feeder
Smallmouth Buffalo reference
(c) moxostoma, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by moxostoma · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyChironomid Midges, Caddisfly Larvae, Cladocerans
Predators
  • Northern Pike
  • Flathead Catfish
  • Bald Eagle
ThreatsUnregulated bowfishing, dam construction disrupting spawning migrations, and river siltation.
HabitatsDeep pools, channels, backwaters, and oxbows of large rivers, as well as clear impoundments and reservoirs.
Life spanUp to 112 years
Classification
  1. OrderCypriniformes
  2. FamilyCatostomidae
  3. GenusIctiobus
  4. SpeciesIctiobus bubalus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Spotting: Scan clear river shallows and tailwaters during spring when schools move into shallow areas to spawn.
  • Identification: Check the upper lip for barbels; native buffalofish lack the whiskers seen on invasive common carp.
  • Angling: Practice catch-and-release, handling these slow-growing centenarians with damp hands and a padded mat.
Related species
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