The Checkered Madtom (Noturus flavater) is, a small freshwater catfish found in the United States, in the rivers of Arkansas and Missouri.[1] It is one of 29 species of madtom.
| Checkered madtom | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Ictaluridae |
| Genus: | Noturus |
| Species: | N. flavater
|
| Binomial name | |
| Noturus flavater Taylor, 1969
| |
Description
editLike many other madtom, 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. The caudal fin is usually straight or slightly rounded.[2]
The Checkered Madtom is thought to be the second largest species of madtom commonly 4-7 inches, with the largest being Noturus flavus.[1]
Distribution and habitat
editThe Checkered Madtom is uncommon in the upper White River system in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. Checkered Madtom has a disjunct population in the Jacks Fork and Current River (Missouri) in Missouri.[1]
The fish inhabits the margins of pools and in the backwaters of clear small or medium rivers, usually with a moderate to high gradient. It is often found among leaves and woody debris.[2] The fish is demersal—it stays near the bed of the body of water.[3]
Biology
editDaytime habitat use in the Jacks Fork River, Missouri, found Checkered Madtom commonly associated with boulder substrate and an average water depth of 0.67 meters.[4]
Checkered Madtom are ready to spawn by April, but may not spawn until July. Males of 3 to 5 years guard the nests. Females most likely leave the nests while males remain to care for the embryos.[5]
Checkered madtom embryos resemble the embryos of other madtoms. Larvae 10 to 12 days old begin to have proportions resembling adults.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c Robison, H. W., & Buchanan, T. M. (2020). Fishes of Arkansas. University of Arkansas Press.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "Checkered Madtom". Florida Museum. 2017-07-18. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
- ^ "Noturus flavater summary page". FishBase. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
- ^ Banks, S. M., & DiSTEFANO, R. J. (2002). Diurnal Habitat Associations of the Madtoms Noturus albater, N. exilis, N. flavater and N. flavus in Missouri Ozarks Streams. The American midland naturalist, 148(1), 138-145.
- ^ a b Burr, Brooks M. (1984). "Reproductive Biology of the Checkered Madtom (Noturus flavater) with Observations on Nesting in the Ozark (N. albater) and Slender (N. exilis) Madtoms (Siluriformes: Ictaluridae)". The American Midland Naturalist. 112 (2): 408–414. doi:10.2307/2425447. JSTOR 2425447.