The checkered madtom (''Noturus flavater'') is a small freshwater catfish found in the United States, in the rivers of Arkansas and Missouri. It is one of 29 species of

madtom Madtoms are freshwater catfishes (order (biology), order Siluriformes) of the genus ''Noturus'' of the family (biology), family Ictaluridae. It is the most species-rich genus of catfish in North America, native to the central and eastern United S ...

Description

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. The caudal fin is usually straight or slightly rounded. The checkered madtom is thought to be the second largest species of madtom commonly 4-7 inches, with the largest being '' Noturus flavus''.

Distribution and habitat

The checkered madtom is uncommon in the upper White River system in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. The checkered madtom has a disjunct population in the

Jacks Fork Jacks Fork is one of two rivers in Missouri that are part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways system. Starting in Texas County, Missouri, this spring-fed river flows in a general east to northeasterly direction through the heart of the geolo ...

and

Current River (Missouri) The Current River forms in the southeastern portion of the Ozarks of Missouri and becomes a 7th order stream as it flows southeasterly out of the Ozarks into northeastern Arkansas where it becomes a tributary of the Black River, which is a tri ...

in Missouri. 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. The fish is

demersal The demersal zone is the part of the sea or ocean (or deep lake) consisting of the part of the water column near to (and significantly affected by) the seabed and the benthos. The demersal zone is just above the benthic zone and forms a layer o ...

—it stays near the bed of the body of water.

Biology

Daytime 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. Checkered madtoms are ready to

spawn Spawn or spawning may refer to: * Spawning, the eggs and sperm of aquatic animals Arts, entertainment and media * Spawn (character), a fictional character in the comic series of the same name and in the associated franchise ** ''Spawn: Armageddon' ...

by April, but may not spawn until July. Males of three to five years guard the nests. Females most likely leave the nests while males remain to care for the embryos. Checkered madtom embryos resemble the embryos of other madtoms. Larvae 10 to 12 days old begin to have proportions resembling adults.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q6415408 Noturus Freshwater fish of the United States Endemic fish of the United States Fish described in 1969