Smallmouth Buffalo
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Name and Code
Family
Catostomidae - suckers
Species
Ictiobus bubalus
Taxonomic Authority
(Rafinesque 1818)
Common Name(s)
Smallmouth Buffalo
French Name
buffalo à petite bouche
Species Code
175
Family TSN
163892
Parent TSN
163954
Species TSN
163955
Conservation Status
Global Rank (GRank)
G5 (2012-02-20)
National Rank (NRank)
NNA
Provincial Rank (SRank)
SNA
COSEWIC Status
none
SARO Status
none
AFS Status
none
Status Notes
none
Ecological Value
Ontario Origin
introduced
General Abundance
rare
Tolerance
tolerant
Economic Importance
none
Length-Weight Regression Coefficents
Intercept (a)
-5.298
Slope (b)
3.208
Length Basis
TL
Habitat and Feeding
General Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Environment
benthic
Trophic Class
benthic insectivore
Thermal Regime
warmwater
Habitat Preference
warm, clear to moderately turbid pools, backwaters, oxbows and deeper waters of large rivers, reservoirs and lakes
Reproduction
Reproductive Guild
Nonguarders: Open substratum spawners: Litho-pelagophils
Spawning Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Spawning Season
spring
Spawning Month(s)
May-June
Spawning Temperature (°C)
12-18
Fecundity
14,470-525,500
Nursery Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Size and Age
Adult Length (cm)
41.1-60.5 TL
Adult Weight (kg)
1.0-4.2
Age at Maturity (yrs)
4-5 (m); 6 (f)
Maximum Length (cm)
122 TL
Maximum Weight (kg)
41.73
Lifespan (yrs)
12-19
Ontario Records
Record Length (cm)
none
Record Weight (kg)
none
Ontario Range Map
Smallmouth Buffalo range
Ontario Distribution
Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair; introduced to U.S. waters of Lake Erie
Photographs
Smallmouth Buffalo photograph
Smallmouth Buffalo photograph
Notes
hybridization with Black Buffalo and Bigmouth Buffalo has been reported; Ontario populations may be hybrids
Information Sources
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Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). 2023. On-line database. http://www.itis.gov, retrieved 02 May 2023.
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Lee, D.S., C.R. Gilbert, C.H. Hocutt, R.E. Jenkins, D.E. McAllister, and J.R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History Publication 1980-12. Raleigh, NC. x + 867 pp.
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Simon, T.P. 1999. Assessment of Balon's reproductive guilds with application to midwestern North American freshwater fishes. Pages 97-122 in T.P. Simon [Ed]. Assessing the sustainability and biological integrity of water resources using fish communities. CRC Press. Boca Raton, FL. xx + 671 pp.
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