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Hop to next section All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name Noturus maydeni  Egge, 2006
Common Names Eastern Ozark Madtom
Black River Madtom
Type Locality Strawberry River at Simstown Public Access, 4 miles north of Evening Shade, 1.7 miles off highway 167 on Simstown Road, 36°05'52"N, 91°36'27"W, Sharp County, Arkansas.
Pronunciation no two russ
Etymology From the Greek notos, meaning back and oura, meaning tail. In reference to the confluent adipose and caudal fins. Named to honor ichthyologist Richard L. Mayden, recognized for his work on species concepts and his contributions to ichthyology, particularly the systematics and biology of central highlands fishes. Dr Mayden has published most of what is known about the life history of the cryptic madtom.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 81mm or 3.2" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Overall coloration mottled grey to grey-brown, with pale yellow background and ventral surface. Dorsal surface of head dark and solid in coloration except for pale region immediately posterior to each eye. Nasal barbels fully pigmented. Dorsal surface of maxillary barbels moderately to fully covered with grey to grey-brown pigment. Outer mandibular barbels typically immaculate, but some individuals have light pigmentation. Inner mandibular barbels always light yellow or creamy white in colour as ventral surface of head. Dorsal surface of pectoral spines heavily pigmented with some pigment extending onto fin rays and membranes. Pelvic fins immaculate distally, but may have light pigmentation extending from body onto base. Flank pigmentation less solid and increasingly mottled posteriorly. Three distinct dorsal saddles visible as distinct areas of solid dark grey to grey brown pigment on dorsal surface. Considerable individual variation exists in the sizes and intensities of the dark markings on the body and fins.
Sexing Mature males have elongate genital papillae with little swelling round the base tissue, vs. shorter genital papillae partially obscured by very swollen tissue around the base of the papilla. Also, males have enlarged head musculature and swollen lips, compared to mature females, which will have a thickened abdomen when gravid.
General Remarks N. maydeni is morphologically identical to N. albater, but is distinguished as a species based upon differences in karyotypes (2n = 56–58 vs. 65–72, respectively), allozyme loci, and DNA sequence data.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution North America: Black and St. Francis river drainages in Arkansas and Missouri, USA.
Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Gulf Coast Drainages, Mississippi, White River (Arkansas), Black (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Gulf Coast Drainages, Mississippi, Saint Francis (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2012.
Temperature 28.0-28.0°C or 82.4-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Found in clear, swift, moderate to large high gradient streams, typically in swift shallow riffles with gravel, cobble, or large stone substrate, but can occasionally be found in shallower pools. It is less abundant in headwater creeks and streams cooled by large springs.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding The natural diet of this species is primarily aquatic insects. User data.
Furniture Sand substrate, slate and cobblestones are essential. Wood, pipes or other hiding places can augment the habitat.
Breeding In nature, spawning occurs in early- to mid-summer. Males dig nests in slower water beneath large (18-30cm across) smooth flat rocks over fine gravel or sand. Some natural nests are as deep as 10-20 cm. Nests have been collected in water at 28C.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Zoologica Scripta v. 35 (no. 6), pp 588, Fig. 7.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2021 Jun 14 06:09 (species record created: 2005 Jul 19 00:00)