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Madtoms are freshwater catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the genus Noturus of the family Ictaluridae. It is the most species-rich genus of catfish in North America, [1] native to the central and eastern United States, and adjacent parts of Canada. [2] Their fin spines contain a mild venom with a sting comparable to that of a honey bee. [1]
Like many other madtoms, the checkered madtom has a stout body. The body is yellow and has four obvious saddle-like stripes of black on top. The bottom is white to yellow. The dorsal fin on the back has a black blotch on the top third of the fin. The caudal (tail) fin has a black bar at its base and at the end.
Ictaluridae includes bullheads, madtoms, channel catfish, and blue catfish. Noturus exilis is found in the central portion of the Mississippi River basin, but is most abundant in Ozarkian streams. [2] Slender madtoms occur west of the Mississippi River in the Ozarks of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri north to southern Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Juvenile mountain madtoms are 20–30mm in length usually. [6] Adult mountain madtoms range from 75–127 mm in length and the life span averages 4–5 years. [5] It is uncertain what age they reach sexual maturity due to the secrecy of the species. [10] One study located a nest and eggs were collected.
However, on August 1, 1980 six Ouachita madtoms were collected in a stream only 3.9 feet (1.2 m) across. The six specimens were obviously young-of-the-year, and their presence raised speculations that Ouachita madtoms seek smaller streams during summer months to spawn.
When compared to other madtoms, the Carolina madtom has a short, chunky body and a distinct color pattern. Three dark saddles along its back connect a wide, black stripe along its side extending from its snout to the base of its tail. The adipose fin has a dark blotch that does not quite reach the fin's edge, giving the impression of a fourth ...
The smoky madtom (Noturus baileyi) is a species of catfish.Little information exists about the smoky madtom, along with other members of the Noturus species, due to the high turbidity in which they spawn, preventing observation, as well as their nocturnal behaviors.
The pygmy madtom is the smallest of madtoms, reaching only about 50 mm in length at adulthood. It is dark brown dorsally and nearly white ventrally, and is similar to the least madtom, but is distinguished by its white snout and large teeth on the front edge of the pectoral spine. The caudal fin has a dark band or dusky blotches in the middle.