Black buffalo

The black buffalo (Ictiobus niger) is a North American species of freshwater fish in the Catostomidae or sucker family. With a lifespan of up to 108 years, it is among the longest-lived of freshwater fish species. Found in the Mississippi Basin and southern Great Lakes. It 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, a few rivers in middle Tennessee, and in west Tennessee along the Mississippi River. The ecology of the species is quite similar to that of I. bubalus. I. niger has a ventrally positioned mouth, making the species’ diet benthic-oriented. It has a distinct body shape and a mouth position that is intermediate between those of I. bubalus and I. cyprinellus. It is distinguished with some difficulty from the former species by its smaller relative eye size and more streamlined body shape.