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Noturus gyrinus (Mitchill 1817)

Tadpole Madtom

Larry Page
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Containing group: Noturus

Identification

The body and fins of the Tadpole Madtom are uniformly light tan or brown with a dark gray veinlike line along the middle of the side. It has a stout body and a terminal mouth with equal jaws (neither jaw protrudes in front of the other). The pectoral spine lacks sawlike teeth on its rear edge. The caudal fin is rounded on the adult but often is more pointed on a juvenile. There are 13-18 anal rays. To 5 in. (13 cm) total length.

Range

The Tadpole Madtom is found in Atlantic and Gulf Slope drainages from New Hampshire to the Nueces River in Texas and in the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River), and Mississippi River basins from southern Quebec to southern Saskatchewan, and south to the Gulf of Mexico. The species has been introduced into the Snake River in Idaho and Oregon and may have been introduced into Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It is common over most of its range but avoids high-gradient streams and thus is absent from the Appalachian and Ozark Highlands.

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Distribution of Noturus gyrinus. © Larry Page

Habitat

The Tadpole Madtom lives in pools and backwaters of sluggish creeks and small to large rivers, and in shallow areas of lakes. It avoids fast rocky streams and usually is found near rocks or debris over a soft substrate.

Similar Species

The Ouachita Madtom, Noturus lachneri, has a shorter and flatter head and a more slender body. The Broadtail Madtom, an undescribed species of Noturus, has an upper jaw that projects beyond the lower jaw. The Speckled Madtom, Noturus leptacanthus, has dark spots on the body and fins and a caudal fin with a straight edge.

Other Names for Noturus gyrinus (Mitchill 1817)

Title Illustrations
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Scientific Name Noturus gyrinus
Location Obion R. system, TN
Identified By Richard T. Bryant & Wayne C. Starnes
Life Cycle Stage Adult
Size 57 mm SL
Copyright © Richard T. Bryant & Wayne C. Starnes
About This Page

Larry Page
Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida, USA

Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Larry Page at and Griffin Sheehy at

All Rights Reserved.

Citing this page:

Page, Larry. 2007. Noturus gyrinus (Mitchill 1817). Tadpole Madtom. Version 23 May 2007 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Noturus_gyrinus/69905/2007.05.23 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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