Ictiobus

Ictiobus, also known as buffalofish or simply buffalo, is a genus of freshwater fish common in the United States, but also found in Canada, Mexico, and Guatemala. They are the largest North American suckers, reaching up to 1.23 m (4.0 ft) in length, and as of 2016, are known for their great longevity. They are sometimes mistaken for carp because of the flat face and large, silver scales running along the body, though they lack the whisker-like barbels common to carp. Buffalo fish live in most types of freshwater bodies where panfish are found, such as ponds, creeks, rivers, and lakes. Ictiobus fish were caught by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. 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, legal changes in the 2010s have quickly made them easy targets of night bowfishing and thus they can now be considered game fish and protective measures are urgently needed. Five species are placed in the genus: Buffalo fish was featured in Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre Foods season nine, episode seven, where Zimmern follows a Mississippi River fisherman who catches buffalo fish and deepfries it.