Noturus gyrinus
(Mitchill, 1817)
|
t is nearly two years now since I last featured any catfish from
the North American continent (Ictalurus
punctatus; August 2001) and having received a request
for thie above species I thought the time was right to go back
to this continent and undertake an investigation into one of the
smallest of the Madtom cats, the "Tadpole Madtom"; Noturus
gyrinus.
There is quite an abundance of information sheets and
articles on this species on the internet but I do not
apologize for adding to this total as we can never get enough
(factual) information on any given catfish species as we strive
to glean as much knowledge as we can on these fascinating creatures.
The name Noturus means "back tail" and refers
to the fusion of the adipose and caudal fins ( in some species
) which tends to give them a tadpole-like appearance.
The "Tadpole Madtom" is one of the smallest Madtoms
apart from the rarest; Noturus stanauli, is abundant
in strong riffles of large creeks and rivers, especially in
areas having boulders or large flat rocks. It is one of the
most widespread species in the genus and can be found from South
West Quebec and South East Manitoba in Canada down to Southern
Florida and Texas. It is absent in the Appalachian Mountains.
You must be very aware of the poison gland in this genus which
resides in the base of the dorsal and pectoral fins as it can
give you a very sore hand, so you will have to be careful if catching
or moving these fish.
Noturus gyrinus can be
found in a variation of body colorations and body shape. Taylor
(1969:48-49) believed the variation in form is a function of nutrition
during growth.
There are of course a few aquarists here
in the U.K. who are coldwater cat enthusiasts but they are getting
few and far between due to to the import restrictions on this
family of cats.
There is now moves afoot by the Government ( U.K.) through the
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAAF) to impose restrictions
on some coldwater species like the above mentioned 'Stonecat',
due to the dangers of introduction to native waters and the threat
to its occupants through disease and predation. In other words
you could be paying up to £30 for a license to keep them.
In the future due to the exporters having to implement new guidelines
on matters such as health records for each fish, they could become
quite rare in the U.K.
Update: As of November 1998 in the U.K.you must have a
licence to keep the above species. This licence is now issued
free, but does take a few months to process. For more information
log on to the DEFRA
site.
It is a pity as I would have loved to have tried out the
"madtoms" as something different here in the U.K. but
you can see the problem it may cause if they are released into
our waters by uncaring "aquarists" and the damage to
our already fragile ecosystem.
Tadpole shaped, robust anteriorly, strongly compressed posteriorly.
Head deep, rounded above; eye small; mouth terminal; 4 pairs of
barbels. Pectoral fin spine lacks serrations, has poison gland
at base. Adipose fin continues with broad rounded caudal fin.
Reddish, tan or dark brown above with one or two dark axial stripes
along each side. Belly yellowish; median fins olive.
In common with most of this genus they make good inhabitants of
a cold (cool) water aquarium and can be mixed with other cool
water species such as shiners, minnows and darters. They like
to have place to call home in the aquarium so furnish it with
rocks or driftwood and flat stones so they can hide during the
day.
You can have either sand or a mixed fine gravel and an internal
power filter to gently push the water around the tank, this will
imitate the conditions encountered in the wild for this species.
There has been a few spawning's in the aquarium, Warming the water
up will possibly induce a spawning with a clutch of eggs laid
under a flat surface or pipework. They can be left with the parents.
The life expectancy is three to four years and they will be sexually
mature in two years.
They like most meaty food, such as cut-up earth worms, frozen
blood worm and prawns. They will also take tablet and pellet foods.
A varied diet will keep them in optimum health.
| Etymology |
Noturus :
Meaning "Back Tail"
referring to the fusion of the adipose and caudal fins
gyrinus: means tadpole. |
| Factsheet
Request |
Matthew Childers
|
| Related
Articles |
The
Tadpole Madtom, Noturus gyrinus
|
| Reference |
Knopf, The Audubon Society Field guide
to North America Fishes, Whales & Dolphins, 1986.
Smith W.Philip; The Fishes of Illinois; University
of Illinois Press.
|
| Photo
Credits |
Top Picture: Konrad P. Schmidt from the The Native
Fish Conservancy at www.nativefish.org
Bottom Picture: R.D.Bartlett
|
|
|
| Synonyms:
|
| Silurus gyrinus |
| Common
Name: |
| Tadpole Madtom |
| Family: |
| Ictaluridae |
| Subfamily: |
| |
| 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 |
| Size: |
| 11.5cm. (4½ins) |
| Temp: |
| 05-23°C
(37-73°F) |
| pH.: |
| 6.5 -7.0. |
| Donation: |
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