Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2018 - 9

Stingers

although its eyesight is pretty good,
with these other assets, who needs it?
Their non-visual senses and Draculalike habits make for great hunting
while reducing their exposure to
daytime predators.
Most spawning for both species
occurs during June and July, but the
Mountain Madtom
breeding season may extend into
August. Nests are usually excavated
under rocks in riffles and runs where
gravel is present. The Northern
ENDANGERED
photo by the author
Madtom, however, will take whatever
help it can get. In Ontario, madtoms
dug
nests
under
artificial
spawning
structures that were placed
Five species of stonecats and madtoms ply the waters of the upper
for a study of exotic Round Gobies. In a study in Michigan, more
Allegheny River drainage. These small catfishes occupy a variety
Northern Madtoms used beverage cans for nests than stones.
of habitats, spending days hiding under rocks or logs or nestled
When spawning begins, the females lay clutches of 40 to 150
in dense vegetation. These fish are night stalkers, moving about
eggs and sometimes lay second clutches in the same nest a week
over the bottom after the sun sets while dining primarily on
aquatic insects. Although stonecats and madtoms dwell in a world or so later. The misshapen males, now with swollen lips, swollen
cheeks and broadened, flattened heads, take over, guarding the
of darkness, for two species-the Mountain Madtom, Noturus
nests until hatching and for a short time thereafter. Hatchlings that
eleutherus, and Northern Madtom, Noturus stigmosus-the future
survive will reach a little over 1 inch in length before winter.
appears to be getting brighter.
The Northern Madtom originally occurred in the Lake Erie and
These diminutive natives should be labeled "Handle with Care."
Ohio River drainages and elsewhere in the Mississippi River basin,
If you've ever collected stonecats or madtoms for bait, you know
the drill. You're picking your catch out of the seine and get careless. from Ontario to West Virginia and Kentucky but disappeared
from much of this range. It is listed as an endangered species in
Next thing you know, there's a drop of blood on your finger and
Canada. The Mountain Madtom is faring a bit better, ranging
stabbing pain. This discomfort has been likened to the sting of
from western Pennsylvania to Alabama, Georgia and Oklahoma,
a bumblebee. Venom glands located alongside the needle-sharp
but its distribution is also fragmented. Both madtoms are listed as
spines of the dorsal and pectoral fins release a toxin when the
endangered species in Pennsylvania.
spine punctures flesh, resulting in the sting. Although bait anglers
When first listed, there were few records available for either
are unlikely to encounter the Mountain Madtom or Northern
species. In recent years, however, fisheries biologists have greatly
Madtom, these catfish are supplied with the same arsenal as their
increased the amount of survey work and use of specialized
more common brethren.
sampling techniques, such as benthic trawling, to target nongame
Mountain Madtoms and Northern Madtoms currently dwell
fishes in both French Creek and the Allegheny River. Based on data
only in French Creek and the mainstem Allegheny River in
from these surveys, it appears that both madtoms have expanded
northwestern Pennsylvania. Both madtoms are mostly found in
its range and currently occupy much of French Creek and the
large streams and rivers and prefer clean, clear, moving water. The
Mountain Madtom and Northern Madtom are content in runs and middle Allegheny River. Both species appear to be somewhat
common in some reaches of these waters.
riffles that feature bottoms of gravel, rubble, and larger rocks and
Doug Fischer, Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission's Fisheries
boulders. Sometimes, both species are found together in the same
Biologist, is cautiously optimistic that with more targeted sampling
sections of river.
(specifically looking in madtom habitat and sampling at night)
Mountain Madtoms and Northern Madtoms are similar in
Mountain Madtoms and Northern Madtoms may soon become
appearance and may be easily confused. Both are brownish, tan
eligible for delisting. "It is also possible that these madtoms
or yellowish brown, and both fish sometimes have a pinkish hue
could become candidates for reintroduction efforts into other
with three darker saddles or blotches on the upper body-at the
Pennsylvania rivers where it no longer occurs," said Fischer.
front base of the dorsal fin, between the dorsal and adipose fins
The Northern Madtom was collected in the Shenango River in
and below the adipose fin. These are not always distinctive or
the 1930s but hasn't been seen there since that time. It probably
visible in the Mountain Madtom. The Northern Madtom sports
fell victim to increases in siltation and sedimentation. Many
the bolder markings.
of Pennsylvania's western rivers were severely polluted from
These two madtoms rarely reach 5 inches in length, and most
before 1900 until the 1970s and 1980s. Although there are few
are under 4 inches in length. Like Pennsylvania's other catfishes,
early records, there is little doubt that these species were widely
these fish possess three sets of barbels-a pair in the nasal region,
distributed in Pennsylvania's larger rivers prior to its destruction.
a pair of maxillary barbels extending from the corners of the
upper lip and four chin barbels. These sensory organs, along with Many of these waterways once again support viable ecosystems
and suitable habitats, but some dams erected during the pollution
receptors in the skin and olfactory pits, arm the madtom with an
era prevent the natural recolonization by native fishes. Perhaps
extraordinary ability to touch, taste, hear and detect vibrations.
before long, and with a little help from biologists, these denizens of
Some catfishes are capable of smelling compounds present in
the dark will prowl these rivers again when the sun goes down.
the water at a concentration of only one part per billion. And,

by Rob Criswell

www.fishandboat.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * July/August 2018

http://www.fishandboat.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2018