Noturus elegans
Elegant Madtom
Larry Page
Identification
The Elegant Madtom has a long, slender body that is yellow-gray to brown above and has 3 or 4 dark saddles. A brown blotch on the base of the dorsal fin extends up the front edge of the fin. There is no black blotch at the top of the dorsal fin, but there is a dark blotch in the lower half of the adipose fin. The caudal fin has 2 or 3 dark bands: 1 in the middle of the fin and 1 or 2 near the edge. The origin of the adipose fin is over the anal fin, and the adipose fin is joined to the caudal fin. The short pectoral spine has 5-9 large teeth on the rear edge and small teeth along the front. The caudal fin has a straight edge or is slightly rounded. There are usually 15-17 anal rays. To 3 in. (7.4 cm) total length.
Range
The Elegant Madtom is found in the upper Green River drainage of Kentucky and Tennessee. It is generally common.
Distribution of Noturus elegans. © Larry Page
Similar Species
The Scioto Madtom, N. trautmani. The Saddled Madtom, N. fasicatus, has large dark bar on caudal fin base, more prominent saddles, dark blotch to edge (or nearly to edge) of adipose fin. The Chucky Madtom, N. crypticus, has long adipose fin beginning at dorsal fin, prominent black specks on cheek.
Title Illustrations
| Scientific Name | Noturus elegans |
|---|---|
| Location | Green River, Casey Co., KY |
| Identified By | David & Lynn Eisenhour |
| Life Cycle Stage | Adult |
| Size | 44 mm SL |
| Copyright | © David & Lynn Eisenhour |
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
Page copyright © 2007 Larry Page
All Rights Reserved.
- First online 23 May 2007
- Content changed 23 May 2007
Citing this page:
Page, Larry. 2007. Noturus elegans . Elegant Madtom. Version 23 May 2007 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Noturus_elegans/69889/2007.05.23 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
