Black Buffalo - Introduction

Introduction

The black buffalo, Ictiobus niger, is a species of the Catostomidae or "sucker" family. The following is a managed plan for I. niger. I. niger is found in the Mississippi Basin and southern Great Lakes. Very rarely is this species found in the coastal drainages west of the Rio Grande. I. niger was first discovered in Canada in the western end of Lake Erie and has been reported from Boston Creek. The Tennessee distribution ranges from rivers and streams in the Cumberland Mountains, few rivers in middle Tennessee, and west Tennessee along the Mississippi River. I. niger was first discovered in Canada in the western end of Lake Erie and has been reported from Boston Creek. The ecology of the species is quite similar to that of Ictiobus bubalus. I. niger has a ventrally positioned mouth, making the species’ diet benthic-oriented. I. niger has a distinct shape that mocks bubalus and cyprinellus considering it a hybrid between the two species. In Kentucky, Mississippi, South Dakota and West Virginia, I. niger is listed as a species of special concern. In Wisconsin, the species has been listed as protected. Future management of I. niger should be very inclusive since the species is considered special concern. Habit’s must be conserved and managed as well as population management. Special concern indicates that the species are highly localized and have declined in population over the years. With increasing population, habitats will continue to decrease.