Ictiobus

Ictiobus, also known as buffalofish or simply buffalo, is a genus of freshwater fish native to North America, specifically the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Guatemala. They are the largest and longest-lived of the North American suckers, reaching up to 1.23 m (4.0 ft) in length[1] and more than 125 years of age.[2] At up to 127 years for bigmouth buffalo, they can reach the highest known age for any freshwater teleost, which is a group of more than 12,000 species.[2][3] Black buffalo and smallmouth buffalo are also long-lived, with ages approaching or exceeding six decades reported.[3][4] Buffalofish are not carp, nor is any other catostomid;[3] they belong to different scientific families having evolved on separate continents. Buffalofish live in most types of freshwater bodies where panfish are found, such as ponds, creeks, rivers, and lakes. Ictiobus were caught by the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Ictiobus
A centenarian Bigmouth buffalo, Ictiobus cyprinellus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cypriniformes
Family:	Catostomidae
Subfamily:	Ictiobinae
Genus:	Ictiobus Rafinesque, 1820
Type species
Catostomus bubalus Rafinesque, 1818
Species
See text

From an angler's point of view, buffalofish were historically not a popular game fish because they are difficult to catch by hook and line (even though they put up a great fight). However, in the 21st Century new sportfisheries have emerged and have quickly made them easy targets of night bowfishing.[5][6][7][8] They are now de facto game fish across much of their range, are in decline,[3][9][10][2] and protective measures are needed.[5][6][7]