Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ Smoky Madtom

Noturus baileyi

Taylor, 1969

Smoky Madtom

G1Critically Imperiled Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
VulnerableIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104060
Element CodeAFCKA02020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNVulnerable
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderSiluriformes
FamilyIctaluridae
GenusNoturus
Concept Reference
Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20. 183 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
See Grady and LeGrande (1992) for a study of phylogenetic relationships, modes of speciation, and historical biogeography of Noturus madtom catfishes. See Lundberg (1992) for a synthesis of recent work on the systematic relationships of ictalurid catfishes.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2012-03-02
Change Date1996-09-19
Edition Date2012-03-02
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Occurs in small areas of not more than a few streams in Tennessee; threatened by activities that degrade water quality.
Range Extent Comments
Range includes a 10.8-km section of Citico Creek, a tributary of the Little Tennessee River in Cherokee National Forest, Monroe County, Tennessee (Bauer et al. 1983, Dinkins and Shute 1996). Formerly the species occurred in Abrams Creek, another tributary of Little Tennessee River in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but this area was flooded by the reservoir behind Chilhowee Dam; it was discovered at this site during fish-poisoning operations. The species has been reintroduced into a flowing section of Abrams Creek, where a population is now well established in several reaches of the creek (Rakes et al. 1998; USFWS 2002; Conservation Fisheries, Inc.). The species also has been released in the Tellico River upstream from Tellico Reservoir, Monroe County, Tennessee (USFWS 2001, 2002); smoky madtoms are established in limited sections of this river (Conservation Fisheries, Inc.).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by three occurrences (subpopulations), including reintroductions.
Threat Impact Comments
Threatened by logging activities, road and bridge construction, and mineral exploration. Activities that expose anakeesta shale, which forms sulfuric acid on contact with water, may result in degraded water quality and declines in madtom populations; water quality may be further degraded as acidic waters leach toxic metals (especially aluminum) from the soil (Matthews and Moseley 1990). This and other madtoms may be unable to tolerate trace amounts of complex organic chemicals.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Clear, cool, rocky riffles, runs, and flowing pools of creeks (Dinkins 1984, Page and Burr 1991, Dinkins and Shute 1996). Citico Creek is a stream 4-10 m wide, mostly less than 1 m deep during low water; 2/3 riffle and 1/3 pool; substrate rounded boulders and cobbles with areas of gravel and bedrock; madtoms are found near junction of pools and riffles in water about 25 cm deep (Bauer et al. 1983). Generally under slab rocks in riffles, especially riffle crests, late spring to late fall; under slabrocks in pools in other months (Dinkins and Shute 1996). Nests have been found under large slab rocks in pool areas (Matthews and Moseley 1990, Dinkins and Shute 1996).

Reproduction

Nesting occurs May-July; sexually mature in secod summer (one year of age); lives approximately two years (Dinkins and Shute 1996).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
TennesseeS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
3 - Energy production & miningPervasive - largeUnknownHigh (continuing)
3.2 - Mining & quarryingPervasive - largeUnknownHigh (continuing)
4 - Transportation & service corridorsPervasive - largeUnknownHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsPervasive - largeUnknownHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource usePervasive - largeUnknownHigh (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingPervasive - largeUnknownHigh (continuing)
9 - PollutionPervasive - largeExtreme - moderateHigh (continuing)
9.2 - Industrial & military effluentsPervasive - largeExtreme - moderateHigh (continuing)
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluentsPervasive - largeExtreme - moderateHigh (continuing)

—

Roadless Areas (3)
Tennessee (3)
AreaForestAcres
Bald River Gorge AdditionCherokee National Forest1,728
Brushy RidgeCherokee National Forest7,469
Upper Bald RiverCherokee National Forest9,202
References (31)
  1. Anonymous. 1984. Smoky madtom given endangered classification. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin 9:4.
  2. Bauer, B. H., G. R. Dinkins, and D. A. Etnier. 1983. Discovery of <i>Noturus baileyi</i> and <i>N. flavipinnis</i> in Citico Creek, Little Tennessee River system. Copeia 1983:558-560.
  3. Dinkins, G.R. 1982. Status survey of the Smoky Madtom (<i>Noturus bailey</i>). Final report to USFWS. 30 November 1982. 33 pp.
  4. Dinkins, G.R. 1984. Aspects of the life history of the Smoky Madtom, <i>Noturus bailey</i> Taylor, in Citico Creek. M.S. thesis., Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville. June 1984. 50 pp.
  5. Dinkins, G. R., and P. W. Shute. 1996. Life histories of <i>Noturus baileyi</i> and <i>N. flavipinnis</i> (Pisces: Ictaluridae), two rare madtom catfishes in Citico Creek, Monroe County, Tennessee. Bulletin of the Alabama Museum of Natural History 18:43-69.
  6. Etnier, D.A., P.W. Shute and G.R. Dinkins. 1984. Management Plan for the Yellowfin and Smoky Madtoms in Citico Creek, Monroe County, Tennessee. Unpublished report to U.S. Forest Service, Cherokee National Forest. 22 pp.
  7. Grady, J. M., and W. H. LeGrande. 1992. Phylogenetic relationships, modes of speciation, and historical biogeography of the madtom catfishes, genus <i>Noturus </i>Rafinesque (Siluriformes: Ictaluridae). Pages 747-777 in R.L. Mayden, editor. Systematics, historical ecology, and North American freshwater fishes. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. xxvi + 969 pp.
  8. Jelks, H. L., S. J. Walsh, N. M. Burkhead, S. Contreras-Balderas, E. Díaz-Pardo, D. A. Hendrickson, J. Lyons, N. E. Mandrak, F. McCormick, J. S. Nelson, S. P. Platania, B. A. Porter, C. B. Renaud, J. Jacobo Schmitter-Soto, E. B. Taylor, and M.L. Warren, Jr. 2008. Conservation status of imperiled North American freshwater and diadromous fishes. Fisheries 33(8):372-407.
  9. Lee, D. S., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, North Carolina. i-x + 854 pp.
  10. Lundberg, J. G. 1992. The phylogeny of ictalurid catfishes: a synthesis of recent work. Pages 392-420 in R.L. Mayden, editor. Systematics, historical ecology, and North American freshwater fishes. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. xxvi + 969 pp.
  11. Major, Smoot (Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage). 1997. Review and annotation of fish and mussel watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Ruth Mathews, TNC on 19 August 1997.
  12. Matthews, J.R. and C.J. Moseley (eds.). 1990. The Official World Wildlife Fund Guide to Endangered Species of North America. Volume 1. Plants, Mammals. xxiii + pp 1-560 + 33 pp. appendix + 6 pp. glossary + 16 pp. index. Volume 2. Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Fishes, Mussels, Crustaceans, Snails, Insects, and Arachnids. xiii + pp. 561-1180. Beacham Publications, Inc., Washington, D.C.
  13. Nelson, J. S., E. J. Crossman, H. Espinosa-Perez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, and J. D. Williams. 2004. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 29, Bethesda, Maryland. 386 pp.
  14. Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes: North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. 432 pp.
  15. Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 2011. Peterson field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston. xix + 663 pp.
  16. Page, L. M., H. Espinosa-Pérez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, R. L. Mayden, and J. S. Nelson. 2013. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Seventh edition. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 34, Bethesda, Maryland.
  17. Page, L. M., K. E. Bemis, T. E. Dowling, H.S. Espinosa-Pérez, L.T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, K. E. Hartel, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, M. A. Neigbors, J. J. Schmitter-Soto, and H. J. Walker, Jr. 2023. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Eighth edition. American Fisheries Society (AFS), Special Publication 37, Bethesda, Maryland, 439 pp.
  18. Rakes, P. L., P. W. Shute, and J. R. Shute. 1998. Captive propagation and population monitoring of rare Southeastern fishes. Final Report for 1997. Field Season and Second Quarter Report for Fiscal Year 1998, prepared for Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Contract No. FA-4-10792-5-00. 32 pp.
  19. Rakes, P.L., P.W. Shute and J.R. Shute. 1999. Captive propagation and population monitoring of rare southeastern fishes. Prepared by Conservation Fisheries, Inc., for TWRA. Final report for 1998 field season and second quarter report for fiscal year 1999, April 7, 1999. 32 pp.
  20. Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20. 183 pp.
  21. Shute, Peggy (Aquatic Zoologist, Tennessee Valley Authority Regional Heritage). 1997. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Ruth Mathews, TNC. October 1997.
  22. Shute, P., J.R. Shute, P.L. Rakes and R.G. Biggins. 1998. Recovery Success For Four Listed Fish. Endangered Species Bulletin, 1998 March/June, 23:30-31.
  23. Shute, P.W. 1984a. Yellowfin Madtom, <i>Noturus flavipinnis</i>. Final status survey report to USFWS. August 22, 1984.
  24. State Natural Heritage Data Centers. 1996a. Aggregated element occurrence data from all U.S. state natural heritage programs, including the Tennessee Valley Authority, Navajo Nation and the District of Columbia. Science Division, The Nature Conservancy.
  25. State Natural Heritage Data Centers. 1996c. Aggregated element occurrence data from all U.S. state natural heritage programs, including the Tennessee Valley Authority, Navajo Nation and the District of Columbia: Export of freshwater fish and mussel records from the Tennessee Valley Authority in 1997. Science Division, The Nature Conservancy.
  26. Taylor, W.R. 1969. A revision of the catfish genus <i>Noturus</i> (Rafinesque) with an analysis of higher groups in the Ictaluridae. Smithsonian Institution, U.S. National Museum Bulletin 282. 315 pp.
  27. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1985. Recovery plan for Smoky Madtom (<i>Noturus baileyi</i>). Prepared by R.G. Biggins for the U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA. 23 pp.
  28. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1990. Endangered and threatened species recovery program: report to Congress. 406 pp.
  29. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2001. Proposed establishment of nonessential experimental population status for 4 fishes into the Tellico River, from the backwaters of Tellico Reservoir upstream to Tellico River Mile 33, in Monroe County, Tennessee. Federal Register 66:30853-30860.
  30. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2002. Establishment of nonessential experimental population status and reintroduction of four fishes in the Tellico River. Federal Register 67(155):52420-52428.
  31. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2023. Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews for 67 Southeastern Species. Notice of initiation of reviews; <br/>request for information. Federal Register 88(91): 30324-30328.