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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); exilis: exilis meaning slender (Ref. 10294).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Temperate; 43°N - 34°N
North America: Green, Cumberland and Tennessee River drainages in central Kentucky to northern Alabama, USA; upper Mississippi River basin from southern Wisconsin and southern Minnesota to Ozark and Ouachita Highlands of Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma in USA.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 15.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5723); common length : 10.2 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193); max. reported age: 4 years (Ref. 12193)
Inhabits rocky riffles, runs, and flowing pools of clear creeks and small rivers. Rarely found in springs and along wave-swept margins of large impoundments (Ref. 5723, 10294). Feeds on aquatic insect immatures (midges, mayflies, caddisflies) and small crustacea (isopods, amphipods, copepods) (Ref. 10294).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
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. (Ref. 5723)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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