| Specimen ID | 164484 |
| Group | Fishes |
| Genus | Pylodictis |
| Species | olivaris |
| Common Name | Flathead Catfish |
| State | NC |
| County | Cumberland |
| Locality | Cape Fear River near Fayetteville |
| Mapping Accuracy | Accurate |
| HUC8 Name | Upper Cape Fear |
| HUC8 Number | 03030004 |
| HUC10 Name | Cross Creek-Cape Fear River |
| HUC10 Number | 0303000407 |
| HUC12 Name | Locks Creek-Cape Fear River |
| HUC12 Number | 030300040707 |
| Map | |
| Collection Year | 1966 |
| Year Accuracy | Actual |
| Potential Pathway | stocked for sport |
| Status | established |
| Reference 1 |
| Ref. Number: | 1491 |
| Author: | Guier, C.R., L.E. Nichols, R.T. Rachels. |
| Date: | 1981 |
| Title: | Biological investigation of flathead catfish in the Cape Fear River. |
| Journal: | Proc. Annual Conference S.E. Assoc. Fish & Wildl. Agencies |
| Volume: | 35 |
| Pages: | 607-621 |
|
|
| Reference 2 |
| Ref. Number: | 16054 |
| Author: | Pine, W.E, III, T.J. Kwak, D.S. Waters, and J.A. Rice |
| Date: | 2005 |
| Title: | Diet selectivity of introduced flathead catfish in coastal rivers. |
| Journal: | Transactions of the American Fisheries Society |
| Volume: | 134 |
| Pages: | 901-909 |
|
|
| Reference 3 |
| Ref. Number: | 14432 |
| Author: | Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina, Wilmington. |
| Date: | 2004 |
| Title: | Nonnative fishes of the Cape Fear River system. |
| Publisher: | Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina, Wilmington. |
|
|
| Comments | There is a strong indication that the introduction of this species has led to the severe decline of our native catfish populations. |
| Record Type | Literature |
| Earliest Record | drainage |
| Freshwater/Marine | Freshwater |
| Number Stocked | 11 |
| Specimen Impact | In 1966 the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission introduced the flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) to the Cape Fear River in an attempt to create a trophy fishery (Moser and Roberts 1998). Within 15 years of their introduction, the flathead catfish was found to be the most abundant catfish by weight and considered to be the new dominant predator in the Cape Fear (Guier et. al. 1981). Guier's study in the late 1970's showed that fish (99.4% by weight) were the principle prey of P. olivaris. Catfishes were the dominant fish found in the flathead's diet (Guier et al. 1981, Ashley et al. 1989). This is a strong indication that the introduction of this species has led to the severe decline of our native catfish populations. |
