Any of several large fresh-water fishes of the family
Catostomidæ (also called
suckers see
Sucker family), of the Mississippi valley. The red-mouthed or brown (
Ictiobus bubalus), the
big-mouthed buffalofish (
Ictiobus cyrinellus, formerly called
Bubalichthys urus), the
black buffalofish (
Ictiobus niger), and the
small-mouthed buffalofish (
Ictiobus bubalus, formerly called
Bubalichthys altus), are among the more important species used as food. [
PJC]