Teleostei (teleosts) >
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); gyrinus: gyrinus meaning tadpole (Greek), refers to the similarity in shape and texture to tadpoles (Ref. 10294).
More on author: Mitchill.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Temperate; 52°N - 26°N
North America: Atlantic and Gulf Slope drainages from New Hampshire to Nueces River in Texas, USA; St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River), and Mississippi River basins from Quebec to Saskatchewan in Canada and south to Gulf of Mexico in USA.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 13.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5723); common length : 4.8 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193); max. reported age: 3.00 years (Ref. 12193)
Inhabits lakes, rock-, mud-bottomed or detritus-bottomed pools and backwaters of lowland creeks and small to large rivers (Ref. 5723, 10294). Feeds on midge, isopods, amphipods, mayfly and caddis larvae (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
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources