Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: MADTOM, MOUNTAIN

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: OSTEICHTHYES

Order: SILURIFORMES

Family: ICTALURIDAE

Genus: NOTURUS

Species: ELEUTHERUS

Taxonomic Authority: JORDAN

Taxonomy References: 002

Status

NONGAME
STATE ENDANGERED
STATE RANK S1S2
GLOBAL RANK G4

Status References: 003 , 007 , 012

Habitat Summary

"Occur in streams with clear water and gravel or rubble bottom, sometimes with thick growths of aquatic vegetation. Usually found on riffles."

Primary Habitat: "Aquatic - river/stream"

References: 001

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Have been collected from the Black R. in Butler county, from the St. Francis R. in Wayne county, and from the Current river in Ripley county in 1986 *001*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
BUTLER BOLLINGER ADAIR
RIPLEY CAPE GIRARDEAU ANDREW
WAYNE CARTER ATCHISON
DUNKLIN AUDRAIN
IRON BARRY
MADISON BARTON
MISSISSIPPI BATES
NEW MADRID BENTON
OREGON BOONE
PEMISCOT BUCHANAN
REYNOLDS CALDWELL
SCOTT CALLAWAY
SHANNON CAMDEN
ST. FRANCOIS CARROLL
STODDARD CASS
CEDAR
CHARITON
CHRISTIAN
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
COLE
COOPER
CRAWFORD
DADE
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DEKALB
DENT
DOUGLAS
FRANKLIN
GASCONADE
GENTRY
GREENE
GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOLT
HOWARD
HOWELL
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MARIES
MARION
MCDONALD
MERCER
MILLER
MONITEAU
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEWTON
NODAWAY
OSAGE
OZARK
PERRY
PETTIS
PHELPS
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SHELBY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
ST. LOUIS
STE. GENEVIEVE
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 001 , 008 , 011

Distribution by Watersheds

St. Francis R. from Headwaters to Wappapello Dam
Black R.
Current R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Oak-Hickory Forest
Southern Floodplain Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Ozark: St. Francois Mountains
Ozark: Lower Ozark

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Riverine

Aquatic Associations:

"Riverine, unknown perennial", "Unconsolidated bottom, cobble/gravel",

References for Aquatic Associations: 001

Habitat Types:

Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 004

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Carnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits

Adult Food Habits

Coleoptera (beetles); Not Specified
Trichoptera (caddisflies); Not Specified
Diptera (flies, midges, mosquitos, gnats); Not Specified
Aquatic Insects; Not Specified
Molluscs; Not Specified
Insects Insects; Not Specified
Ephemeroptera (mayflies); Not Specified
Plecoptera (stoneflies); Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 009

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: rubble
Aquatic vegetation
Density of aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00130)
Current velocity specified in comments(00150)
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Natural features: riffles

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 008 , 009

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

Aquatic vegetation
Density of aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00130)

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 008

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Other niche requirements specified in comments(99999)
Water temperature specified in comments(00010)
Turbidity: clear water
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: rubble
Aquatic vegetation
Density of aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00130)
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Natural features: riffles

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 001 , 008 , 009

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: rubble
Aquatic vegetation
Density of aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00130)
Current velocity specified in comments(00150)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Natural features: riffles

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 001 , 008 , 009

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: rubble
Aquatic vegetation
Density of aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00130)
Current velocity specified in comments(00150)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Natural features: riffles

References for resting adult niche requirements: 001 , 008

Niche Requirement Summary

Aquatic vegetation
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: rubble
Current velocity specified in comments(00150)
Density of aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00130)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Natural features: riffles
Other niche requirements specified in comments(99999)
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Turbidity: clear water
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Water temperature specified in comments(00010)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
012 In TN, one nest found under a rock 20 cm in diameter *009*
005 In TN, feed under edges of rocks or among stems of aquatic vegetation *009*
007 In TN, most spawning is believed to occur in June *009*
018 Clutch size in one nest 70 *009*
038 Maximum age 4-5 years. Males live longer and attain greater length. Largest female found in TN study 59mm sl, largest male 66mm sl. *009*
039 Adults usually 2.2-3.5" long, to a maximum of about 4" *001*
041 Fecundity 55 in a 41mm sl female, 115 in a 59mm sl female *009*

Life History Information

Periodicity: active at night
Age and growth information specified in comments(038)
Length-weight relationships specified in comments(039)
Fecundity specified in comments(041)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy: gleaning
Foraging strategy: stalking
Foraging sites: water
Foraging sites specified in comments(005)
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Spawning site specified in comments(012)
Clutch/litter size specified in comments(018)
Parental care of young: male

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
012 In TN, one nest found under a rock 20 cm in diameter *009*
005 In TN, feed under edges of rocks or among stems of aquatic vegetation *009*
007 In TN, most spawning is believed to occur in June *009*
018 Clutch size in one nest 70 *009*
038 Maximum age 4-5 years. Males live longer and attain greater length. Largest female found in TN study 59mm sl, largest male 66mm sl. *009*
039 Adults usually 2.2-3.5" long, to a maximum of about 4" *001*
041 Fecundity 55 in a 41mm sl female, 115 in a 59mm sl female *009*

References for life history: 001 , 009

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Water - control sedimentation
Water - develop/maintain streamside vegetation
Water - stabilize streambanks
Water - maintain sandbars
Agricultural - control erosion

Beneficial Management References: 006 , 013

Adverse Managment Practices:

Water - dredging and filling
Water - navigational improvements (channelization, dams, locks)
Water - gravel dredging in streams

Adverse Management References: 013

Comments on Management:

References for Management Comments:

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Pflieger, W.L. 1997. The Fishes Of Missouri, Revised Editon. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 372 Pp.
002 Nelson, Joseph S., Edwin J. Crossman, Héctor Espinosa-Pérez, Lloyd T. Findley, Carter R. Gilbert, Robert N. Lea, and James D. Williams. 2004. Common And Scientific Names Of Fishes From The United States, Canada and Mexico (6th Ed.). Amer. Fish Soc. Spec. Publ. No. 29. 386 pp.
003 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
004 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
005 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
006 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Mo Dept. Of Conservation, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
007 The Checklist Of Rare And Endangered Species Of Missouri. 1991. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 44 Pp.
008 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. The Stream Resources Of Missouri. D-J Project F-1-R-28. Study S-20. Mo Dept. Of Conserv., 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880)
009 Starnes, L.B. and W.C. Starnes. 1985. Ecology And Life History Of The Mountain Madtom, Noturus Eleutherus (Pisces:Ictaluridae). Amer. Midl. Nat. 114:331-341.
010 Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement.
011 Unpb Missouri Department of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102.
012 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.
013 Missouri Department Of Conservation. Best Management Practices: Mountain Madtom. Mo Dept. Conservation, Jefferson City, Mo.