Bigmouth buffalo
ExploreFish
Bigmouth buffalo
Ictiobus cyprinellus
The Bigmouth buffalo is a large fish with a big mouth! It swims in rivers and lakes, eating plants and tiny creatures. They are fun to watch as they glide through the water.
Habitat: Freshwater lakes and rivers
Appearance
The Bigmouth buffalo is a large, deep-bodied freshwater fish, typically silvery-gray with a darker back and pale belly. Its most distinctive feature is a huge, downward-pointing mouth that sets it apart from other similar fish species.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderCypriniformesFamilyCatostomidaeGenusIctiobus
Category
FishRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Bigmouth buffalo are native North American fish, often mistaken for invasive carp species!
Bigmouth buffalo can live for over 100 years, making them freshwater giants!
Their huge, downward-pointing mouth acts like a natural vacuum cleaner for the riverbed.
These fish can hear well, sensing vibrations to find tiny food in murky water.
Special abilities
Ability
Filter Feeding Prowess
Bigmouth buffalo can filter-feed by swimming with their mouth open, catching tiny plants and animals from the water column.
Ability
Exceptional Longevity
Bigmouth buffalo has an incredibly long lifespan, allowing them to survive for decades and become very large.
Ability
Oxygen Resilience
Bigmouth buffalo can tolerate low oxygen levels, which helps them survive in warm, stagnant waters.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 50-120 cm
- Weight
- 5-30 kg
- Lifespan
- 20-100 years
- Maximum Depth
- 20 m
- Water Type
- Freshwater
Diet & Feeding
These gentle giants filter tiny plants and animals from the water using their special mouths.
Primary Foods
- zooplankton
- phytoplankton
- algae
- detritus
Foraging Method
- Filter Feeding
Ecological connections
eaten by
Walleye
Sander vitreus
Young Bigmouth buffalo are prey.
eaten by
Northern Pike
Esox lucius
Predatory fish hunt younger or smaller individuals.
eaten by
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Eagles can prey on fish near surface.
eats
Water Flea
Daphnia pulex
A primary food source of zooplankton.
eats
Blue-green Algae
Microcystis aeruginosa
Feeds on this common phytoplankton.
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Filter Feeder
Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Longevous
This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Freshwater
Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Giant
Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always stay close to an adult when near water.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Bigmouth buffalo?
50-120 cm
How much does Bigmouth buffalo weigh?
5-30 kg
How long does Bigmouth buffalo live?
20-100 years
What does Bigmouth buffalo eat?
These gentle giants filter tiny plants and animals from the water using their special mouths.
Where is Bigmouth buffalo usually found?
Freshwater lakes and rivers
How does Bigmouth buffalo hunt?
Filter Feeding
How deep can Bigmouth buffalo go?
20 m
What kind of water does Bigmouth buffalo live in?
Freshwater
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