Bullheads have a squared-off tail rather than the forked tail of the catfish described above, but they are very closely related. Both lack scales on their skin.

While other bullhead species have been found in the Hudson’s watershed, the only one common in the river is the brown bullhead. It is brownish above, often with lots of yellow lower on the sides and belly. Occasionally the fish is mottled or splotched with darker colors. It may reach a length of sixteen inches and a weight of three pounds, but most are smaller.

Bullheads guard their eggs and young from predators. While they are able to survive low oxygen levels and some pollution, they – like other Hudson catfish – tend to accumulate high levels of PCBs and should not be eaten regularly.