Get to know brown bullhead: identifying features, habitat, food, and life cycle.
Identification & habitat
- Scientific name: Ameiurus nebulosus.
- Pattern: Strong dark mottling on brownish sides.
- Barbels: Dark chin barbels; long mouth-corner barbels.
- Tail: Slightly notched, not deeply forked.
- Anal rays: Usually 22–23.
- Pectoral spine: Strong rear-edge serrations.
- Regional size: Commonly 7–15 inches.
- Habitat: Quiet, clear, heavily vegetated water.
- Adult diet: Often dominated by immature aquatic insects.
Food & behavior
- Feeding: Mostly at night and near the bottom.
Spawning, growth & lifespan
- Young diet: Small crustaceans.
- Spawning: Likely May–June in Missouri.
- Parenting: Parents protect eggs and early fry.
- Longevity: Commonly six to eight years in the agency account.
Angling & the bigger picture
- Local conservation: Limited natural distribution in Missouri; loss of Bootheel wetlands reduced habitat.
Sources & further reading
Research checked October 18, 2026. Common sizes and ages are examples rather than hard limits. Missouri spawning dates are regional unless another location is named. Consult the current local fishing rules for the water you plan to fish.