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Noturus funebris Gilbert & Swain, 1891

Image contributors to this species:

Noah Daun (2)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: The black madtom has a rather plump body. The anal fin is long and has 21 to 27 rays, reaching the caudal fin. The caudal fin is usually straight or barely rounded. Like other madtoms, black madtoms possess many chemically sensitive sensory pores and barbels. Habitat: Black madtoms prefer permanent springs and creeks or rivers with a moderate or fast flow. They prefer a habitat with a small gravel or coarse sand bed, and prefer the cover of vegetation. Reproduction: It is presumed that eggs are laid under rocks. Colouration: It is a black or dark black blue on the top half and lighter on the lower half. They have many tiny dots across their body, most obvious under the head and belly. Aquarium Care: The Madtoms are well suited to aquarium life. Provide river gravel and smooth rounded stones for hiding places during the day. A power filter at one end of the tank will provide the conditions of a flowing stream for these catfish. Can be housed with other North American fishes such as minnows, darters and shiners. Diet: The black madtom is believed to have a similar diet to those of other madtoms, consisting of decapods and the larvae of flies, mayflies, and caddisflies. Plant material makes up a greater percent of the diet in summer. In the aquarium 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: The specific name funebris: Latin for funereal, referring to its uniform black colouration.

Common Name:

Black Madtom

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Ictaluridae

Distribution:

North America: Gulf Slope drainages from Enconfina Creek in Florida, USA to Pearl River in Mississippi and Louisiana, USA.

Size:

12.0cm. (4¾ins)

Temp:

16-23°C (59-73°F)

p.H.

6.5-7.2.

IUCN Red List

In the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2012. Noturus funebris is listed as Least Concern. Listed as Least Concern in view of the large extent of occurrence, large number of subpopulations, large population size, and lack of major threats. Trend over the past 10 years or three generations is uncertain but likely relatively stable, or the species may be declining but not fast enough to qualify for any of the threatened categories under Criterion A (reduction in population size), (needs updating IUCN 2013).

Reference:

Explorer.natureserve.org
Florida Museum of Natural History
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2022. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 02/2022 )
GBIF.org
Micah G. Bennett & Bernard R. Kuhajda (2008) Life History Aspects of the Black Madtom, Noturus funebris (Siluriformes: Ictaluridae), in the Cahaba River Drainage, Central Alabama, USA, Journal of Freshwater Ecology.
NatureServe. 2013. Noturus funebris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013.
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p.

Family: Ictaluridae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Noturus funebris

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