I was enjoying the life above the Duckweed (Lemnaceae) recently, marveling that I’ve never seen so many Eastern Amberwings (Perithemis tenera).
There were also a few Blue Dashers (Pachydiplax longipennis), making more Blue Dashers.
A damselfly of unknown provenance was depositing eggs.
And then, along the edge of the lake, some disturbance from below. There was an agitated simmering, not quite bubbling. I wondered what it might be. Then, rising, a mass of little black fish, tightly clumped together at the surface, swarming over each other, some half out of the water momentarily. They were feasting on something. 
The individual fish visible on the edges of this mass had serious whiskers, barbels, making me think of some kind of catfish. What the hell, I took the plunge.
I’m taking a semi-wild guess that these are Black Bullheads (Ameiurus melas); what do you think?
The barbels are flush to the sides here.
As an added benefit of my open-handed catch and release, the underside of the Duckweed, some of the smallest flowering plants anywhere, is revealed as purple.
Thanks Matthew.
Where was this?
Prospect Park Lake.
I’ve seen these masses of baby catfish being guarded by the mother. I wonder if she was nearby.
I should have been more concerned about my fingers.
They are guarded by the father…he chases the mother away shortly after spawning and guards the nest and then the fry for a few weeks.
Thanks for this information, pbsmith!
Reblogged this on Backyard and Beyond and commented:
It’s been so hot, I haven’t been out and about as much as I should be. So let’s plunge our hands into the water of the past…
I’m glad you reblogged this – I hadn’t seen pbsmith’s correction of the parental gender.