Get to know flathead catfish: identifying features, habitat, food, and life cycle.
Identification & habitat
- Scientific name: Pylodictis olivaris; also yellow cat or shovelhead.
- Head: Broad and flattened, with small eyes.
- Jaw: Lower jaw projects ahead of the upper.
- Tail: Nearly square with a slight notch, not deeply forked.
- Pattern: Usually yellow-brown or olive with dark mottling.
- Habitat: Large river pools and reservoirs, often around wood.
- Regional size: Common adults 15–45 inches; exceptionally large fish occur.
Food & behavior
- Behavior: Adults are solitary and use favored resting cover.
- Night movement: Leave cover to feed in shallower areas.
- Diet: Adults favor fish and crayfish rather than decaying material.
Spawning, growth & lifespan
- Young: Small juveniles eat insect larvae.
- Spawning: Missouri account describes late June–July.
- Nest: A cavity or site beside a large submerged object.
- Egg mass: Can exceed 100,000 eggs.
- Guarding: Males protect fry for roughly a week after hatching.
- Maturity: About 4–5 years in the regional account.
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.