AquaticRepublic.com - Noturus gyrinus (Ictaluridae) All Fishes

Juvenile
Close-up of mouth
Juvenile and adult
Habitat: Unicorn Lake, Maryland, USA
Close-up of dorsal view
Dorsal view

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Noturus gyrinus** (Mitchill, 1817)
Common Names	Tadpole Madtom Haletudse-giftmalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Wallkill Creek [= Walkill River], New York, U.S.A.
Synonym(s)	Noturus sialis, Schilbeodes gyrinus, Schilbeodes mollis, Silurus gyrinus, Silurus mollis
Pronunciation	no two russ - jai ree nuss
Etymology	From the Greek notos, meaning back and oura, meaning tail. In reference to the confluent adipose and caudal fins. From the Greek gyrinus, meaning tadpole. In reference to the distinctive body form of this species.
Species Information
Size	130mm or 5.1" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Short, stocky body. Terminal mouth with equal jaws. Posterior edge of pectoral spine without distinct serrations, golden yellow to dark chocolate brown body with dark midlateral stripe, 13-18 anal-fin rays.
Sexing	Breeding male with swollen lips, enlarged cephalic epaxial muscles, and large bulbous genital papilla. Female with papilla with deep median groove ending in a small bump.
General Remarks	W. Ralph Taylor (revised madtom catfishes in the 1960s) stabbed himself with each species of Noturus to try and discover which had the worst toxin. This dedicated research led him to the conclusion that this species, the tadpole madtom, was the worst.
Habitat Information
Distribution	North America: Atlantic and Gulf Slope drainages from New Hampshire to Nueces River in Texas, USA; St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River), and Mississippi River basins from Quebec to Saskatchewan in Canada and south to Gulf of Mexico in USA. Gulf Coast Drainages, Mississippi (click on these areas to find other species found there) Gulf Coast Drainages, Mississippi, Missouri (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2012.
pH	6.2 - 7.0
Temperature	16.0-22.0°C or 60.8-71.6°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Good aeration but strong current unnecessary.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Readily feeds on live and frozen foods. Madtoms appear to have difficulty in digesting earthworms and tubificid worms (even though they will gorge themselves when offered), and should not be fed these foods. May also adapt to prepared foods in the aquarium. User data.
Furniture	A gravel bottom is not neccesary for this species. Provide a bottom of sand mixed with peat moss, PVC pipes, flat rocks and vegetation.
Compatibility	Suitable for a coldwater community tank. Ideal tankmates include small- to mid-sized North American native fishes such as shiners and darters.
Suggested Tankmates	Ideal tankmates include small to midsized North American native fishes such as darters and shiners.
Breeding	The northern populations spawn in May-August, although gravid females have been found in southern populations as early as April. This species spawns in shelter and may use discarded containers for nesting sites. Both parents help to guard the nest and care for eggs (typically 93-150 in a clutch). The fish move over the egg mass in a shivering motion, with the anal fin in contact with the eggs, or take part of the egg mass into their mouths and spit it out.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	American Monthly Magazine and Critical Review v. 1, pp 289.
Registered Keepers	There is no registered keeper.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 6 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	Look up N. gyrinus on PlanetCatfish.com
	Look up N. gyrinus on Fishbase
	Look up N. gyrinus on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up N. gyrinus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.5.32.320
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:19 (species record created: 2001 Apr 25 00:00)