| 1a |
White or pinkish in body color and no eyes present |
go to 2 |
| 1b |
Has eyes |
go to 3 |
| 2a |
Has teeth and a long snout |
Satan eurystomus (Widemouth Blindcat) |
| 2b |
Jaw has no teeth |
Trogloglanis pattersoni (Toothless Blindcat) |
| 3a |
Tadpole like caudal fin (adipose fin continues into caudal fin) |
go to 4 |
| 3b |
Caudal fin is not tadpole like (adipose and caudal fin not connected) |
go to 5 |
| 4a |
Overbite/upper jaw protrudes over lower |
Noturus nocturnus (Freckled Madtom) |
| 4b |
Jaws equal and thin midlateral line present |
Noturus gyrinus (Tadpole Madtom) |
| 5a |
Caudal fin forked |
go to 6 |
| 5b |
Caudal fin not forked |
go to 8 |
| 6a |
Anal fin triangular shaped (straight edge) |
Ictalurus furcatus (Blue Catfish) |
| 6b |
Anal fin rounded |
go to 7 |
| 7a |
Caudal fin strongly forked, smaller adult fish lack spots, and 27-29 anal fin Rays |
Ictalurus punctatus (Channel Catfish) |
| 7b |
Caudal fin weakly forked, many black spots on body, and 22-26 anal fin rays |
Ictalurus lupus (Headwater Catfish) |
| 8a |
Lower jaw extends beyond lower, white tip/area on caudal fin, and flat head |
Pylodictis olivaris (Flathead Catfish) |
| 8b |
Head is not flat |
go to 9 |
| 9a |
Anal fin slightly rounded and fish has black barbels on chin |
Ameiurus melas (Black Bullhead) |
| 9b |
Anal fin straight and has yellow or white barbels on chin |
Ameiurus natalis (Yellow Bullhead) |