Ictaluridae

flathead catfish

Pylodictis olivaris

Catfish Reaching One Hundred Fifty Five Centimeters

• Tropical
• Lower river
• Northern Hemisphere
• Regional distribution
• Freshwater fish
• North America
• West Asia
• Elongated
• Large
• Tropical fish

The flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris), also called by several common names including mudcat or shovelhead cat, is a large species of North American freshwater catfish in the family Ictaluridae. It is the only species of the genus Pylodictis. Ranging from the lower Great Lakes region to northern Mexico, it has been widely introduced and is an invasive species in some areas.