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Madtoms are freshwater catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the genus ''Noturus'' of the family Ictaluridae. It is the most species-rich family of catfish in North America, native to central and eastern United States, and adjacent parts of Canada.〔 Their fin spines contain a mild venom with a sting comparable to that of a honey bee.〔Florida Museum of Natural History: ''(Ictaluridae )'' Retrieved 6 April 2014.〕 Nearly half the species of madtom catfishes was described in a single comprehensive revision of the group. Morphology is very conserved in this genus; most of the species look very similar and it is difficult to tell them apart with the usual meristic and morphometric characters used to identify species. The more conspicuously variable attributes of these secretive fishes are features of pigmentation, which also are more difficult to quantify and often vary according to substrate and water quality. These species have small to tiny or fragmented ranges, and aspects of pigmentation are important diagnostic characters of each.〔 Over one quarter of the recognized species diversity in ''Noturus'' remains undescribed. A number of madtom species are narrowly distributed and extremely rare, and thus are at great risk of extinction. ''N. trautmani'' may even be extinct, having been last collected in 1957.〔 == Species == There are currently 29 recognized species in this genus: * ''Noturus albater'' W. R. Taylor, 1969 (Ozark madtom) * ''Noturus baileyi'' W. R. Taylor, 1969 (Smoky madtom) * ''Noturus crypticus'' Burr, Eisenhour & Grady, 2005 (Chucky madtom) * ''Noturus elegans'' W. R. Taylor, 1969 (Elegant madtom) * ''Noturus eleutherus'' D. S. Jordan, 1877 (Mountain madtom) * ''Noturus exilis'' E. W. Nelson, 1876 (Slender madtom) * ''Noturus fasciatus'' Burr, Eisenhour & Grady, 2005 (Saddled madtom) * ''Noturus flavater'' W. R. Taylor, 1969 (Checkered madtom) * ''Noturus flavipinnis'' W. R. Taylor, 1969 (Yellowfin madtom) * ''Noturus flavus'' Rafinesque, 1818 (Stonecat) * ''Noturus funebris'' C. H. Gilbert & Swain, 1891 (Black madtom) * ''Noturus furiosus'' D. S. Jordan & Meek, 1889 (Carolina madtom) * ''Noturus gilberti'' D. S. Jordan & Evermann, 1889 (Orangefin madtom) * ''Noturus gladiator'' Thomas & Burr, 2004 (Piebald madtom) * ''Noturus gyrinus'' (Mitchill, 1817) (Tadpole madtom) * ''Noturus hildebrandi'' (R. M. Bailey & W. R. Taylor, 1950) (Least madtom) * ''Noturus insignis'' (J. Richardson, 1836) (Margined madtom) * ''Noturus lachneri'' W. R. Taylor, 1969 (Ouachita madtom) * ''Noturus leptacanthus'' D. S. Jordan, 1877 (Speckled madtom) * ''Noturus maydeni'' Egge, 2006 (Black River madtom) * ''Noturus miurus'' D. S. Jordan, 1877 (Brindled madtom) * ''Noturus munitus'' Suttkus & W. R. Taylor, 1965 (Frecklebelly madtom) * ''Noturus nocturnus'' D. S. Jordan & C. H. Gilbert, 1886 (Freckled madtom) * ''Noturus phaeus'' W. R. Taylor, 1969 (Brown madtom) * ''Noturus placidus'' W. R. Taylor, 1969 (Neosho madtom) * ''Noturus stanauli'' Etnier & R. E. Jenkins, 1980 (Pygmy madtom) * ''Noturus stigmosus'' W. R. Taylor, 1969 (Northern madtom) * ''Noturus taylori'' N. H. Douglas, 1972 (Caddo madtom) * ''Noturus trautmani'' W. R. Taylor, 1969 (Scioto madtom) ==References== 〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Madtom」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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