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Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Ictaluridae (North American freshwater catfishes)
Etymology: Noturus: Greek, noton = back + Greek, oura = tail; refred to the position of the tail over the back (Ref. 45335); gladiator: From the Latin gladiator, meaning swordsman, in reference to the large and serrated pectoral spines of this species.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; depth range 0 - 1 m (Ref. 55397). Subtropical; ? - 26°C (Ref. 55397)
North America: coastal plain streams of Tennessee and Mississippi, USA.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 55397)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6 - 7; Anal soft rays: 12 - 15; Vertebrae: 33 - 34. A member of Noturus furiosus species group distinguished from all other members by its exceptionally bold pigment pattern, with particular reference to the following markings: dark brown to black dorsal saddles highly contrasted with pale yellow to tan areas on body; posterior dark saddle passing through adipose fin extends to middle of anal fin base, posterior to terminus of caudal peduncle, forming a well-defined broad lateral band of dense pigment; dorsal fin with dark, broad submarginal and basal bands connected anteriorly via first 2-3 rays; anal fin with dark central blotch extending onto base and often connected to intense dark pigment on sides of caudal peduncle; dark, crescent-shaped midcaudal band, thickest in center where broadly joined to dark pigment on caudal peduncle. Differs also by the following combination of characters: pectoral spine with strongly developed anterior dentations, some often bifurcate; pectoral spine, its posterior serrae, and the posterior process of cleithrum very large; pectoral fin long, sickle-shaped, and when depressed, reach beyond pelvic fin origin, except in very large specimens (Ref. 55397).
Inhabits mainstream rivers of small to medium size and the lower reaches of their major tributaries (Ref. 55397). Most commonly associated with moderate velocities, moderate depth (about 60 cm), clean sand or clay substrata and cover in the form of leaf packs, brush and log jams (Ref. 55397).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Thomas, M.R. and B.M. Burr, 2004. Noturus gladiator, a new species of madtom (Siluriformes: Ictaluridae) from Coastal Plain streams of Tennessee and Mississippi. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 15(4):351-368. (Ref. 55397)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00244 - 0.04107), b=3.04 (2.81 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
