Ozark madtom facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ozark madtom |
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The Ozark madtom (Noturus albater) is a small fish that lives only in freshwater rivers and streams in the United States. It's one of 29 different kinds of madtom fish. This special fish is found only in certain areas, making it endemic to the US.
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What Does the Ozark Madtom Look Like?
The Ozark madtom has a strong, sturdy body and a small head. It has a dark stripe near its tail fin, which is usually straight or a little bit rounded. Its fins have a certain number of rays: the fins on its chest have 9 rays, and the fin on its belly (anal fin) has 13 to 16 rays. This fish can grow up to about 120 millimeters (4 inches) long.
Where Do Ozark Madtoms Live?
You can find Ozark madtoms in the upper parts of the White River and the Little Red River. These rivers are located in the Ozark Uplands region of Arkansas and Missouri, United States.
Ozark Madtom Habitat
Ozark madtoms like to live in riffles, which are shallow, fast-moving parts of a river. They also enjoy rocky pools. They prefer cool, clear creeks and small to medium-sized rivers that have a good current. These fish are usually found in shallow water, less than half a meter deep, where the water moves quickly. During the day, they hide among the rocks at the bottom of the riverbed.
What Do Ozark Madtoms Eat?
Most of the Ozark madtom's diet is made up of aquatic insects. They especially love to eat flies (called Diptera). Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) make up most of the rest of their meals.
Ozark Madtom Behavior
Scientists believe that Ozark madtoms are nocturnal. This means they are most active at night, just like owls or bats.
Reproduction and Nesting
Ozark madtoms make their nests under small, flat rocks in pools. These pools are usually about one-third to two-thirds of a meter deep. Before the fish lay their eggs, the male madtoms' heads change. Their head muscles get bigger, and their lips swell up. This is similar to what happens with other types of madtoms. It's thought that these bigger heads help the males build their nests. They might use their heads to clear out spaces and dig under rocks for a safe place for the eggs.
The Ozark Madtom Life Cycle
Ozark madtoms lay yellow, round eggs. These eggs stick to each other, but they don't stick to other surfaces. About four days after the eggs are laid, the baby fish inside start to show signs of life. You can see their blood, and their muscles begin to form. Their tails become free from the yolk sac, and their eyes develop color. Tiny barbels, which are like whiskers, start to grow on their faces.
From Larva to Adult
When the baby fish hatch, they are called larvae. They are about 8 millimeters (0.3 inches) long and mostly clear. Soon, dark spots called melanophores appear on their heads. Their tail and anal fins start to grow, and another pair of barbels appears near their nostrils. About seven days after hatching, the larvae are about 12 millimeters (0.5 inches) long. At this point, all their fins look almost like an adult fish's fins. The striped pattern seen on adult madtoms doesn't show up until later.
After about nine months, the young fish are usually around 53 millimeters (2 inches) long.
Who Eats Ozark Madtoms?
Some other fish like to eat Ozark madtoms. For example, bleeding shiners (Luxilus zonatus) are known to eat the eggs of the Ozark madtom. When the Ozark madtoms are still tiny larvae, rainbow darters (Etheostoma caeruleum) and gilt darters (Percina evides) will sometimes prey on them.
Ozark Madtom Parasites
Ozark madtoms have been found with scars from a type of parasite called Lernaea.
See also
In Spanish: Noturus albater para niños
