(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species MADTOM, SMOKY
Species Id ESIS254006
Date 13 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - MADTOM, SMOKY
OTHER COMMON NAMES - MADTOM and SMOKY
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Fish
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - CHORDATA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - OSTEICHTHYES,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - SILURIFORMES,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - ICTALURIDAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - NOTURUS,
SPECIES AND SSP - BAILEYI,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - NOTURUS BAILEYI
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Smoky Madtom
Noturus baileyi Taylor, 1969
KINGDOM: Animal GROUP: Fish
PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Osteichthyes
ORDER: Siluriformes FAMILY: Ictaluridae
Smoky madtoms are olive brown with lighter areas pale yellow
except for the belly which is white. Three pale yellow areas on the
dorsum, called "saddles", are located at the posterior of the dorsal
fin and at either end of the adipose fin. As in all madtoms, the base
of the adipose fin is fused for its entire length to the dorsum; the
adipose fin has a dusky bar in its middle one-half to three-fourths,
extending to or nearly to the dorsal margin. The dorsal spine and the
distal areas of the dorsal fin rays are pigmented posterior to the
penultimate ray. The caudal fin has a pale margin which is bordered
anteriorly by an even more poorly defined pale bar; the basal half of
the caudal fin is dark. The dark bases of the middle caudal rays form
a vague vertical dark bar at the caudal base. The middle four-fifths
of the central rays of the anal fin are pigmented, and the edge of the
fin is unpigmented. The pelvic fins are unpigmented. The pectoral
spine and the basal three-fourths of the pectoral rays 1-3 are
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species MADTOM, SMOKY
Species Id ESIS254006
Date 13 MAR 96
unpigmented (01).
Taylor (05) described the smoky madtom in 1969 and placed it in
the subgenus Rabida because of the shape of its pectoral spine and its
color pattern. Within this subgenus, Noturus baileyi is included in
the hildebrandi species group along with both subspecies of N.
hildebrandi and N. stanauli based on morphologic characters.
The type specimens of N. baileyi are deposited in the U.S.
National Museum of Natural History (USNM 201602 and 201601),
Washington, D.C. A photograph of the species is found in Bauer,
et al. (01). Dinkins (03) illustrated the prehatchling and larval
stages. Specimens of N. baileyi can be found at the University of
Tennessee Research Collection of Fishes, Department of Zoology,
Knoxville, TN.
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species MADTOM, SMOKY
Species Id ESIS254006
Date 13 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Tennessee; Federal Endangered
Tennessee; State Recognized
E: Federal Endangered
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The smoky madtom (Noturus baileyi) has been designated an
Endangered species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(50 CFR 17.11; P.L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1540),
as amended. The species has this status wherever found including
the State of Tennessee. Critical Habitat has been designated in
Monroe County, TN (50 CFR 17.95(e)).
This species is protected by the Lacey Act (P.L. 97-79, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.) which makes it unlawful to import,
export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any wild
animal (alive or dead including parts, products, eggs, or offspring):
(1) in interstate or foreign commerce if taken, possessed,
transported or sold in violation of any State law or
regulation; or
(2) if taken or possessed in violation of any U.S. law,
treaty, or regulation or in violation of Indian tribal law.
It is also unlawful to possess any wild animal (alive or dead
including parts, products, eggs, and offspring) within the U.S.
territorial or special maritime jurisdiction (as defined in
18 U.S.C. 7) that is taken, possessed, transported, or sold in
violation of any State law or regulation, foreign law, or Indian
tribal law.
RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES:
USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and
law enforcement/protection of this species.
USFS -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public lands under their control. Also responsible
for management/recovery on Forest Service lands. The
Forest Service is responsible for integrating
management, protection, and conservation of Federally
listed species into the Forest Planning process
(36 CFR 219.19 and 219.20).
Management practices that would cause detrimental
changes in water temperature or composition, water
course blockage, or sediment deposits within 100 feet
of the edges of perennial streams, lakes or other
bodies of water are prohibited (36 CFR 219.27(e)).
Both the U.S. Forest Service and Tennessee Valley Authority are
cooperators with the FWS concerning management research and recovery.
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species MADTOM, SMOKY
Species Id ESIS254006
Date 13 MAR 96
All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any
action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of the species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of Critical Habitat (50 CFR 402),
and to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the
conservation of the species.
STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
STATE: Tennessee
DESIGNATED STATUS: Recognized Endangered
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Wildlife Resources Agency
STATE STATUTES: TN Annotated Code, Chapter 9, Section 51-901
through 51-912.
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
None.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
This species does not have any cultural or commercial value. It
is sensitive to changes in water quality and therefore would be an
indicator of environmental quality.
82/06/22:47 FR 26878/ - Notice of review
83/11/21:48 FR 52612/ - Proposed rule
84/10/26:49 FR 43065/ - Final rule, listed as Endangered
Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - AQUATIC
INLAND AQUATIC
LAND USE -
Streams and Canals
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Riverine, upper perennial SB1
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The following information is taken from Dinkins (02,03):
The smoky madtom occurs in Citico Creek, Monroe Co., TN between
creek km 5.9 to 16.6, elevation 262 to 284 meters. Roughly
corresponding with these points, Citico Creek flows through the
Ranger-Citico-Fletcher soil association. This stretch of creek is
typified by shallow (less than 50 cm deep) riffles composed of
abundant flat, palm-sized rocks, shallow (50-100 cm deep) pools
composed of pea-gravel and occasional flat rocks, and deep (1-2 m)
pools with silty/sandy bottoms interspersed with large boulders.
Water current in these riffles typically ranges from 0.50 to 0.70
m/sec.; in the shallow pools the current usually ranges from 0.10 to
0.45 m/sec.; in the deeper pools the current is usually less than
0.10 m/sec.
From creek km 26.7 to the mouth, Citico Creek has a gradient drop
of 10.9 m/km with a noticeable gradient change at creek km 16.6. When
Citico Creek is separated into two contiguous sections - the upper
being creek km 26.7 to 16.6, and the lower being 16.6 to the mouth -
the gradient is 14.5 m/km and 2.5 m/km, respectively. Below creek km
5.9 Citico Creek passes through the Statler-Staser-Transylvania soil
association; this stretch of creek has a predominantly bedrock and
sand substrate.
Water temperatures in Citico Creek between creek kilometer 5.9
and 16.6 range from nearly 0 degrees C during the colder winters to a
high of 23 degrees C in the warmer summers. This area of Citico Creek
receives an average annual precipitation of 128 centimeters. Other
than water temperature, there exists no published information on water
quality parameters for Citico Creek within the range of the smoky
madtom.
From late May to early November, smoky madtoms occur in all parts
of riffles, especially riffle crests. From early November to late
May, they occur in shallow pools.
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species MADTOM, SMOKY
Species Id ESIS254006
Date 13 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
CARNIVORE
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Arthropods
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species MADTOM, SMOKY
Species Id ESIS254006
Date 13 MAR 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Aquatic Features: Pool areas
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species MADTOM, SMOKY
Species Id ESIS254006
Date 13 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
Unless otherwise noted all information in the Biology Narrative
is from Dinkins (03).
FOOD HABITS:
Dinkins examined the stomach contents of 13 preserved juvenile
and adult smoky madtoms which are, except possibly for a few specimens
taken by private collectors, the only known preserved specimens from
Citico Creek.
Aquatic insect larvae account for the bulk of the diet of the
smoky madtom; ephemeropteran nymphs are the most common aquatic insect
(70.7%); dipterans, trichopterans, and plecopterans account for 23.9%,
4.4%, and 1.0% of aquatic insects, respectively. Gravel is
occasionally found in the stomachs and is probably ingested
accidentally, suggesting that smoky madtoms pick their prey from the
substrate. Nothing is known about the feeding periodicity of the
smoky madtom or seasonal variation in its feeding.
HOME RANGE/TERRITORY:
Smoky madtoms appear to be non-territorial (04).
PERIODICITY:
The species is less active and easier to capture during the
winter months, presumably due to the colder water (04).
MIGRATION PATTERNS:
Non-migratory (04).
COVER/SHELTER REQUIREMENTS:
Smoky madtoms occur under flat, palm-sized rocks, called
slabrocks, to the exclusion of other species. Except as breeding
pairs, rarely do they occur under slabrocks with other smoky madtoms.
Slabrocks used by smoky madtoms in the riffles range from 4 - 50 mm
thick (mean=19.9), and from 3117 - 33006 square mm in face area
(mean=8422.5). During winter and spring, smoky madtoms occur in
shallow pools, and use slabrocks which range from 8 - 50 mm thick
(mean=20.9), and from 2796 - 18265 square mm in face area (mean=
8300.7). Statistical tests suggest that no significant difference
exists between the slabrocks smoky madtoms use for cover in the
riffles (summer/fall) and those used for cover in the shallow pools
(winter/spring).
N. baileyi nests under flat rocks, in riffles and shallow pools.
Rocks under which nests are constructed are larger in overall
dimensions than those used for cover only. Nest rocks range from 25
to 50 mm thick (mean=36.0); the area of the face ranges from 25,000 to
143,775 square mm.
REPRODUCTIVE SITE REQUIREMENTS:
Rocks under which either breeding pairs or nests are found
average 3.6 cm thick and 25.8 cm in length and width. A nesting site
consists of a large, flat rock under which a small pit has been dug
into the substrate. Nests are lined with small gravel and rock, are
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species MADTOM, SMOKY
Species Id ESIS254006
Date 13 MAR 96
devoid of silt, and are presumably prepared by one or both parents.
Aquatic insects are noticeably absent from the undersides of all nest
rocks. Smoky madtoms nest in riffle crests and shallow pools. Water
depth ranges from 23 to 55 cm, mean=39.3; current ranges from 0.17 to
0.59 m/sec., mean=0.40.
REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS:
Male smoky madtoms are found in breeding condition during the
months of May, June, and July. They exhibit secondary sexual
characteristics typical of all members of the genus Noturus; the
genital papillae enlarge, cephalic epaxial muscles increase noticeably
in size, and the lips swell. Male smoky madtoms in breeding condition
show more body color (yellow) than do gravid females.
Gravid females are found from early May to late July and are
identified by their distended abdomens and swollen genital papillae.
The enlarged cephalic epaxial muscles and lips, apparent in nuptial
males, do not develop in gravid females. A gravid female collected
and preserved from Citico Creek had ovaries containing 287 oocytes in
three size classes. The occurrence of polyandry in N. baileyi is not
clearly documented.
Males and females in breeding condition are found together from
early June to mid-July. Water temperature during this period in
Citico Creek ranges from 18 - 23 degrees C.
PARENTAL CARE:
As in other species of Noturus for which life history data
exists, following spawning, the male smoky madtom assumes the
responsibility of guarding the clutch and keeping the nest cavity free
of silt until the larvae leave the nest. While in the capacity of
nest-guarder, the male does not feed.
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
Smoky madtoms live 2+ years. Females attain greater lengths than
males. To date, the largest male collected from Citico Creek measured
59 mm standard length, 71 mm total length; the largest female measured
63 mm standard length, 73 mm total length.
Presently, a study is being conducted by personnel from the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Tennessee Wildlife
Resource Agency, U.S. Forest Service, and University of Tennessee
biologists on the feasibility of reestablishing Noturus baileyi in
Abrams Creek, Blount Co., TN.
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
Sympatric with Noturus baileyi in Citico Creek, at least from
creek km 13.8 to 16.6, is the rare and Federally threatened yellowfin
madtom, N. flavipinnis. The spawning and nesting season for N.
baileyi and N. flavipinnis overlap considerably in Citico Creek; male
and female yellowfin madtoms have been found in breeding condition
from late to mid-July. Normally not syntopic with N. baileyi during
the nonbreeding months, juvenile yellowfin madtoms have been found
under large, flat rocks in shallow pools in close proximity (less than
3 m) to N. baileyi nests and there may be some competition for these
rocks. Also sympatric with N. baileyi in Citico Creek is the rare
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species MADTOM, SMOKY
Species Id ESIS254006
Date 13 MAR 96
duskytail darter (Etheostoma sp.), an undescribed member of the
subgenus Catanotus. The duskytail darter, like the yellowfin madtom,
is known from only three other localities in Tennessee and Virginia.
Life History - 3 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species MADTOM, SMOKY
Species Id ESIS254006
Date 13 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Off-Road Vehicles
Beneficial Developing/maintaining stream structures
Beneficial Maintaining/Controlling Water Flow
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Mining
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Road Maintainance Actions
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Controlling pollution [thermal, chemical, physical]
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Pesticide Use
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Herbicide Use
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Agricultural Practice
Beneficial Creating Artificial Habitat/Nesting Structure
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Nonnative Vegetation
Beneficial Stocking captive-reared wild-strain animals
Beneficial Transplanting wild animals
Beneficial Transplanting Wild Eggs/Wild Seeds
Adverse Low Gene Pool
Existing Low Gene Pool
Adverse Reservoirs
Existing Reservoirs
Adverse Applying pesticides
Existing Applying pesticides
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
The smoky madtom, Noturus baileyi, occurs only in Citico Creek, a
tributary to the Little Tennessee River, Monroe Co., TN; this
population is estimated at 500-1000 individuals (02). Another
population, discovered in nearby Abrams Creek, Blount Co., TN in 1957,
was extirpated at the time of discovery by a fish toxicant which was
released into the stream during a rough-fish removal project (05).
While it appears that N. baileyi is a stream inhabitant, surveys of
other tributaries, large and small, in the Little Tennessee River
drainage, have not yielded additional populations (02). The Little
Tennessee River is inundated for most if its lower 100 miles by a
series of six dams. It is not known whether these reservoirs have had
or continue to have an affect on the Citico Creek population.
Tellico reservoir, the lowermost reservoir on the Little Tennessee
River, inundates the lower 1.0 km of Citico Creek and may have
impacted the species there.
Considered threatening to the future of the smoky madtom is the
danger of a single catastrophic accident in the Citico Creek
watershed, such as a toxic chemical spill from a tanker truck
accident. Any activity which affects the water quality in the heavily
forested Citico watershed (e.g., increased road building, or
indiscriminate logging practices) in turn poses a threat to
N. baileyi. A large portion of the upper Citico Creed watershed is
currently under consideration for inclusion in the National Wilderness
System.
In 1973 a fish barrier was installed by the U.S. Forest Service
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species MADTOM, SMOKY
Species Id ESIS254006
Date 13 MAR 96
midway up Citico Creek (creek km 13.8) to inhibit the migration of
Moxostoma sp. (redhorse) and enhance the trout fishery in the upper
part of the creek. This 8 foot high barrier essentially divides the
smoky madtom population into two subpopulations of between 250-500
individuals each, reducing the effective population size and gene flow
in the population.
APPROVED PLAN:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1985. Smoky Madtom Recovery Plan.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA. 26 pp.
Recovery actions for the smoky madtom include:
(1) Continue to utilize existing legal mechanisms to protect the
species and its habitat.
(2) Conduct population and habitat surveys to determine the status
and range of the species.
(3) Determine present and foreseeable threats to the species and
implement protective measures. Threats may include coal mining, road
and bridge construction, off-road vehicle use, herbicide and pesticide
spraying, and some agricultural and logging practices.
(4) Investigate the need for habitat improvement and implement
improvements if needed to secure viable populations. This may include
increasing the number of slab rocks in the stream bed for nesting
sites and maintaining optimum water flow.
(5) Determine the feasibility of reestablishing the smoky madtom into
its historic habitat in Abrams Creek and to other suitable stream
reaches determined to have historic habitat. Develop a sucessful
technique for reestablishing populations and reintroduce them.
The U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Park Service are conducting
preliminary research into life history and reintroduction techniques.
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - References
Species MADTOM, SMOKY
Species Id ESIS254006
Date 13 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Bauer, B., G. Dinkins, and D. Etnier. 1983. Discovery of
Noturus baileyi and N. flavipinnis in Citico Creek, Little
Tennessee River System. Copeia 1983(2):.
02 Dinkins, G.R. 1982. Status survey of the smoky madtom (Noturus
baileyi). Final Rep. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 37 pp.
03 Dinkins, G. 1984. Aspects of the Life History of the Smoky
Madtom, Noturus baileyi, in Citico Creek. M.S. Thesis, Univ. Tenn.
50 pp.
04 Dinkins, G. Unpublished data. Route 4 W Beaver Creek Dr.,
Powell, TN 37849.
05 Taylor, W.R. 1969. A revision of the catfish genus Noturus
Rafinesque with an analysis of higher groups in the Ictaluridae.
Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. No.282. 315 pp.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 Dinkins, G.R. 1982. Status survey of the smoky madtom (Noturus
baileyi). Final Rep. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 37 pp.
02 Taylor, W.R. 1969. A revision of the catfish genus Noturus
Rafinesque with an analysis of higher groups in the Ictaluridae.
Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. No.282. 315 pp.
References - 1