How is the tail fin shape typically described for *Ameiurus natalis* compared to deeply forked tails?
Answer
It is usually only slightly notched or appears nearly straight across
When attempting to identify the Yellow Bullhead in the field, examining the caudal fin, or tail fin, offers another useful, non-fin ray related characteristic. Unlike some other catfish species that possess tails deeply forked—meaning the lobes come together in a pronounced V-shape—the tail fin of *A. natalis* presents a much less dramatic configuration. It is typically characterized as being either only slightly notched or appearing nearly straight across when fully spread. This relatively blunt or shallowly indented tail shape serves as a useful field mark to differentiate it from relatives or other species sharing its habitat.
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