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- Title
Life Histories of Noturus baileyi and N. flavipinnis (Pisces: Ictaluridae), Two Rare Madtom Catfishes in Citico Creek, Monroe County, Tennessee.
- Authors
Dinkins, Gerald R.; Shute, Peggy W.
- Abstract
The life histories of the federally endangered smoky madtom (N. baileyi) and the federally threatened yellowfin madtom (N. flavipinnis) were studied in Citico Creek, a tributary to the lower Little Tennessee River in eastern Tennessee. Most of the observations and measurements were made between May 1981 and June 1984. Live and preserved individuals were observed for information on distribution, macro- and microhabitat occurrences, age and growth, reproduction and nesting, larval development, feeding ecology, and parasitism. Noturus baileyi lives in only a 10.8 km reach of Citico Creek, beginning at creek km 6.0. From late spring to late fall, N. baileyi occur underneath flat, palm-sized rocks (slabrocks) in riffles, especially riffle crests. During the colder months, pools are occupied and slabrocks similar in physical dimension to those used as shelter in the riffles are used. Noturus baileyi lives approximately two years, and sexual maturity is reached in the second summer of life (one year of age). Noturus baileyi nests under large, flat rocks where one or both parents excavate a cavity for the egg mass. Nesting takes place from May to July, and an average of 36.3 eggs were found in four nests. Larval development is described for hatchlings and subsequent stages. Noturus flavipinnis is found in only three widely distributed locations in the upper Tennessee River system. In Citico Creek, N. flavipinnis occurs year-round in pools in a 3.6 km reach beginning above a small concrete dam at creek km 13.7. Movement between these pools is limited. The species lives three to four years, and sexual maturity is reached in the third summer of life (two years of age). Noturus flavipinnis nests under large, flat rocks that are slightly larger in physical dimensions than those used by N. baileyi. Nesting takes place from May to July, and an average of 55 eggs were found in ten nests. Evidence supporting polyandry is given for both species. Larval development is described for several larval stages of N. flavipinnis. Both species are almost exclusively insectivorous.
- Subjects
CITICO Creek Wilderness (Tenn.); NOTURUS; FISH nests; FISH habitats; SEXUAL maturity in fishes; RARE fishes
- Publication
Bulletin of the Alabama Museum of Natural History, 1996, Issue 18, p43
- ISSN
0196-1039
- Publication type
Article