Noturus flavus
Stonecat
Larry Page
Identification
The Stonecat is yellow to slate above, with a light blotch on the nape, a cream-white spot at the rear of the dorsal fin base, and a cream-white blotch on the upper edge of the caudal fin. Unlike other madtoms, the premaxillary tooth patch has a backward extension from either side. The rear edge of the pectoral fin spine has no or only a few small sawlike teeth. The Stonecat is slender, has a straight edge on the caudal fin, and 15-18 anal rays. To 12 1/4 in. (31 cm) total length.
Range
The Stonecat is found in the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River) and Mississippi River basins from Quebec to Alberta, and south to northern Alabama, northern Mississippi, and northeastern Oklahoma. On the Atlantic Slope, it is found in the Hudson R. drainage of New York. The species is common throughout much of its range.
Distribution of Noturus flavus. © Larry Page
Habitat
The Stonecat lives in rubble and boulder riffles and runs of creeks and small to large rivers, and on gravel shoals of lakes.
Similar Species
No other madtom has a backward extension from each side of the premaxillary tooth patch or exceeds 7 in. (18 cm) in total length.
Title Illustrations
| Scientific Name | Noturus flavus |
|---|---|
| Location | Middle Fork Rockcastle River in Cumberland River Basin, Below mouth of Peter Br., Jackson Co., KY |
| Specimen Condition | Dead Specimen |
| Identified By | M. R. Thomas |
| Life Cycle Stage | Adult |
| Size | 104 mm TL |
| Copyright | © M. R. Thomas |
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 flavus . Stonecat. Version 23 May 2007 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Noturus_flavus/69907/2007.05.23 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
