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Noturus flavipinnis Taylor, 1969
Yellowfin Madtom
Federal Protection: Listed Threatened
State Protection: No Georgia state protection
Global Rank: G1
State Rank: SX
Element Locations Tracked in Biotics: Yes
SWAP 2015 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes
SWAP 2025 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes
2025 SGCN Priority Tier: Moderate Conservation Concern
Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 1
Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Pools and backwaters of medium-sized creeks; gravel and pebble substrate
The Yellowfin Madtom is a small member of the catfish family, with a moderately elongated body, a depressed head, large eyes and a slightly rounded caudal fin. It has long pectoral spins with highly developed serrae. It is yellowish in color dorsally and whitish ventrally. It has dark blotches beneath the dorsal fin, behind the dorsal fin, in the adipose fin base and has a crescent-shaped blotch across the base of the caudal fin. It’s fins are banded with dark mottling.
The Yellowfin Madtom co-occurs with the Smoky Madtom (Noturus baileyi) in Citico Creek in Tennessee and the two could be easily confused. However, Smoky Madtoms live in riffle crests/pools while Yellowfin Madtoms occupy only pools. Smoky Madtoms likely only live 2+ years and reach a maximum size of 63 mm, while Yellowfin Madtoms live 3+ years and reach a maximum size of 115 mm. They both spawn in June-July under large flat rocks and males will guard their nests. Smoky Madtoms have much smaller clutch sizes (approx. 35) than Yellowfin Madtoms (approx. 90).
Large pools less than 3 meters deep with organic sand, gravel and rock rubble less than 30 cm in diameter. They can be found in clean, silt free substrate and may spawn in cleaner substrate than where they are normally found.
Yellowfin Madtoms feed almost exclusively on insect larvae including midge, mayfly and stonefly larvae. Grains of sand were often found in the stomachs of madtoms so they are likely feeding on the bottom of pools that they live in.
Yellowfin Madtom presumably live to three years of age and can reach a size of 115 mm. Male madtoms guard their eggs until their young are free-swimming and seem to not feed while on their nests. Studies indicate that males can be sexually mature by one year of age. Female Yellowfin Madtoms are sexually mature at 2 years of age and likely spawn at least twice in one spawning season. Spawning season is from late-May to mid-July. Madtoms will build nests or spawn under large flat rocks. Female egg counts range from 382 to 456. Mature eggs range in diameter from 2.5 to 3.3mm and on average there are 177 mature eggs per female. Most individuals likely spawn only once or twice in their lifetime.
Since they are a nocturnal species, Yellowfin Madtoms are found best by snorkeling for them at night in pools less than 2 meters deep.
The Yellowfin Madtom is known from Citico Creek in the Little Tennessee River system, Copper Creek in Virginia, Powell River in Tennessee and 5 other localities from the upper and middle Tennessee River drainage. Before 1893, they were likely also found in North Fork Holsten River in Virginia, Hines Creek in Tennessee and Chickamauga Creek in Georgia. They were reintroduced in 1986 into Abrams Creek in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park where they had been previously extirpated.
Because of their low fecundity, short lifespan, specialized reproductive behavior and habitat requirements, this species is very vulnerable to anthropogenic influences. Since this species is nocturnal, it likely relies heavily on chemoreception for survival. Small changes in water quality from agriculture, coal mining and development could detrimentally affect this species.
| Threat 1 | Threat 2 | Threat 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Threat | Natural system modifications | None | None |
| Specific Threat | Dams & water management/use | None | None |
This species was listed as federally threatened on September 9th 1977. It is presumed extirpated in Georgia.
The recovery plan for this species calls for habitat improvement, especially in the areas affected by coal mining, as well as public outreach and education and possibly reintroducing captive reared individuals.
Bauer, B.H., G. R. Dinkins and D.A. Etnier. 1983. Discovery of Noturus baileyi and N. flavipinnis in Citico Creek, Little Tennessee River System. Copeia 1983 (2): 558-560.
Dinkins, G. R., and P. W. Shute. 1996. Life Histories of Noturus baileyi and N. flavipinnis (Pisces: Ictaluridae), Two Rare Madtom Catfishes in Citico Creek, Monroe County, Tennessee. Buil. Alabama Mus. Nat. Hist. 18: 43-69.
Etnier, D.A. and W. D. Starnes. 1993. The Fishes of Tennessee. Univ. Tennessee Press, Knoxville: 315-317.
Gibbs W. K., J. E. Miller, J. K. Throneberry, S. B. Cook and M. A. Kulp. 2014. Summer habitat use and partitioning by two reintroduced rare madtom species. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 29 (2): 243-258.
Taylor, W.R., R.E. Jenkins and E.A. Lachner. 1971. Rediscovery and description of the ictalurid catfish Noturus flavipinnis. Proc Biol Soc Wash. 83: 469–476.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983. Recovery plan for yellowfin madtom (Noturus flavipinnis). Atlanta (GA): U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Shawna Mitchell
S. Mitchell, Jan 2019: Original account