How do the chin barbels of Ameiurus catus distinguish it from the Yellow Bullhead, Ameiurus natalis?
Answer
A. catus has white or yellow chin barbels, compared to the light-colored barbels of A. natalis.
Defining species boundaries within the *Ameiurus* genus relies on subtle, fixed physical characteristics developed over long evolutionary periods. One key characteristic used to separate the White Catfish (*A. catus*) from its bullhead cousin, the Yellow Bullhead (*A. natalis*), involves the coloration of the chin barbels. While both species feature light-colored barbels generally, the specific trait noted for *A. catus* is possessing white or yellow chin barbels, which provides a distinction against the general description of light-colored barbels found on *A. natalis*.
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