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Flathead Catfish

Pylodictis olivaris

Fish · family Ictaluridae · order Siluriformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
30 states[3]
Longest recorded life
20 years[4]

The Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) is a fish in the catfish family Ictaluridae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure worldwide, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Flathead Catfish a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a US national rank of N5 (Secure)[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. NatureServe says the recent population trend is uncertain[8]. It is likely fairly stable or slowly declining[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern

Where Flathead Catfish lives

NatureServe lists the Flathead Catfish as native in 30 US states and territories, including Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin[3]. It is listed as introduced, meaning not native, in Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon, South Carolina and Washington[9]. State lists show where NatureServe records the fish, so they are not a promise you will see one there.

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: native, state rank S4WIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: introduced, state rank SNAWAIdaho: introduced, state rank SNAIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank S4NDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: native, state rank S3ILMichigan: native, state rank S3MINew York: native, state rank SNRNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: introduced, state rank SNAORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5SDIowa: native, state rank S4IAIndiana: native, state rank S5INOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5PANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: introduced, state rank SNACAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: native, state rank S4CONebraska: native, state rank S4NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRMOKentucky: native, state rank S4KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5WVVirginia: native, state rank S4VAMaryland: native, state rank SNAMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: introduced, state rank SNAAZNew Mexico: native, state rank S2NMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S4ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S2NCSouth Carolina: introduced, state rank SNASCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S4GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5TXFlorida: native, state rank SNRFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (36 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArizonaSNANot Applicable
ArkansasS4Apparently Secure
CaliforniaSNANot Applicable
ColoradoS4Apparently Secure
FloridaSNRNot Ranked
GeorgiaS4Apparently Secure
IdahoSNANot Applicable
IllinoisS3Vulnerable
IndianaS5Secure
IowaS4Apparently Secure
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS4Apparently Secure
LouisianaS5Secure
MarylandSNANot Applicable
MichiganS3Vulnerable
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriSNRNot Ranked
NebraskaS4Apparently Secure
New MexicoS2Imperiled
New YorkSNRNot Ranked
North CarolinaS2Imperiled
North DakotaS4Apparently Secure
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
OregonSNANot Applicable
PennsylvaniaS5Secure
South CarolinaSNANot Applicable
South DakotaS5Secure
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5Secure
VirginiaS4Apparently Secure
WashingtonSNANot Applicable
West VirginiaS5Secure
WisconsinS4Apparently Secure

Habitat

NatureServe records big rivers and medium rivers with low or moderate gradient, which means a gentle slope, as habitat for this fish[11]. It also lists riffles (fast, shallow stretches), pools and shallow water[11]. Adults stay in deep holes shaped by swirling water, close to drift piles, fallen trees or other cover[12]. Young fish tend to live in stony or sandy stretches of moving water[12]. The fish spawns in hidden, dark spots such as hollow logs, bank holes and rock crevices[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size, diet and lifespan

Adults eat mostly fish and other animals without backbones, such as crayfish[13][14]. Smaller fish eat fishes and bottom-dwelling invertebrates, and the youngest eat mainly aquatic insect larvae[13]. The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 141 cm (56 in)[15]. AnAge gives the age of female sexual maturity as 1,825 days[16]. NatureServe says males stay with the eggs and the newly hatched young for up to several days[17]. Reports of the oldest fish give ages of 16 and 20 years, and AnAge lists 20 years as the longest recorded lifespan[17][4].

Trait Value
Typical length[15] 141 cm (56 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 20 years (wild)
Litter or clutch size[18] 52000
Female maturity[16] 1,825 days (about 5.0 years)
Food habits[14] Piscivore, Invertivore

When to look for it

The Flathead Catfish is nocturnal, which means it is active at night[19]. It feeds mainly at night but also by day when the water is turbid, or cloudy[20]. It spawns in late spring and summer, when the water is between 22 and 29 C[17]. Observation records on GBIF peak in June, July and August[21]. These records show when people look and report, not how many fish there are[21].

January: 187 recordsJanFebruary: 165 recordsFebMarch: 356 recordsMarApril: 566 recordsAprMay: 930 recordsMayJune: 1,672 recordsJunJuly: 2,357 recordsJulAugust: 2,607 recordsAugSeptember: 1,534 recordsSepOctober: 1,001 recordsOctNovember: 476 recordsNovDecember: 1,111 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[21].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January187
February165
March356
April566
May930
June1,672
July2,357
August2,607
September1,534
October1,001
November476
December1,111

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Flathead Catfish as present in 25 park units[22]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 1 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, New Mexico, Illinois[23]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Flathead Catfish endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide[2].
Where does the Flathead Catfish live?
It is native in 30 US states and territories, including Texas, Alabama and Ohio[3]. It has been introduced in Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon, South Carolina and Washington[9].
What does the Flathead Catfish eat?
Adults eat mainly fish and crayfish[13][14]. The youngest fish eat mostly aquatic insect larvae[13].
How big does a Flathead Catfish get?
NatureServe records a typical length of 141 cm (56 in)[15].
How long does a Flathead Catfish live?
The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge is 20 years in the wild[4]. This is a record and not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Flathead Catfish is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Flathead Catfish: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Flathead Catfish as native in 30 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 20 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) is a fish in the family Ictaluridae, order Siluriformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe notes on trend for Flathead Catfish. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe lists Flathead Catfish as introduced (not native) in: Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon, South Carolina, Washington. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Flathead Catfish (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for Flathead Catfish: Big river, Medium river, Moderate gradient, Low gradient, Riffle, Pool, Shallow water. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Flathead Catfish. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for Flathead Catfish. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Piscivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 141 cm (56 in). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 1,825 days (about 5.0 years). AnAge
  17. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Flathead Catfish. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 52000. AnAge
  19. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Nocturnal. NatureServe Explorer
  20. NatureServe notes on phenology for Flathead Catfish. NatureServe Explorer
  21. GBIF observation records of Flathead Catfish in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  22. NPSpecies park lists recording Flathead Catfish as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  23. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Flathead Catfish: Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, New Mexico, Illinois. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.