CATFISH GENUS NOTURUS RAFINESQUE 57 



head, rather elongate body, and relatively short grooves of the 

 pectoral spine show similarities to A^. exilis. 



Etymology. — Noturus lachneri is named after Dr. Ernest A. Lachner 

 in recognition of his outstanding work and interest in North American 

 ichthyology. 



Ecology. — Little information regarding the habitat of this species 

 is available. The holotype was collected from a stream 30 to 50 feet 

 wide with alternating pools and riffles. The specimen was observed, 

 in daylight, swimming near the edge of a pool in about one inch of 

 water. At this point there was no appreciable current and the bottom 

 was covered with small rocks of a few inches in diameter. During the 

 attempt to capture the specimen it swam beneath several rocks, 

 before it could be finally uncovered and scooped into a net. The series, 

 USNM 165901, came from a small stream that was in flood foUowing 

 a heavy rain. The bottom is described as consisting of gravel, rubble, 

 and sand. 



Noturus exilis Nelson 



SLENDER MADTOM 

 Plates 1 (fig. 1), 2 (fig. 2), 3 (fig. 3), 6 (fig. 1); Map 2 



Noturus exilis E. W. Nelson, 1876, pp. 33, 51 (original description; types from 

 McLean Co., 111. [probably Mackinaw Cr.]). — Jordan and Copeland, 1876, 

 p. 160 (Illinois and Wisconsin*). — Jordan, 1877b, pp. 371-372 (comparison; 

 Illinois and Wisconsin*) ; 1877c, p. 50 (S. Illinois;* not noticed by Rafines- 

 que) ; 1877d, pp. 73-119, pi. 38, figs. 58-59b (comparison; relationship; 

 range; a type from Illinois R. figured [An error in locality is evident for the 

 other two figures, as the captions are given, page 119, as "Illinois River" 

 and under the figures as "Root R., Wis.," the latter an improbable locality.]) ; 

 1877e, p. 611 (relationship). — Jordan and Gilbert, 1877a, p. 2; [Klippart], 

 1877, p. 153, and Jordan, 1878c, p. 368 (hypothetical for Indiana; range 

 [in error]). — Jordan and Brayton, 1878, pp. 87, 93 (relationship; range [in 

 error]) .—Jordan, 1878a, p. 118 (Illinois R. [system] only); 1878b, p. 67 

 (McLean Co., 111., and [Marais des Cygnes R.], Kansas* [Root R., Wis., 

 compiled in error?, see above]); 1878d [and 1884], pp. 335-336 (description; 

 range); 1878e, p.414.— Bean, 1880, p. 112 (South Grand R.,* Mo.) .—Jordan, 

 1882, pp. 745-800 (synonymy; description; hypothetical for Ohio; range 

 [in error]). — Swain and Kalb, 1883, pp. 640-644 (identical to Noturus insig- 

 nis). — Jordan and Gilbert, 1883, p. 100 (description; range). — Hoy, 1883, 

 p. 434 (Wisconsin; ?Fox R.).— Jordan, 1885, p. 802.— Forbes, 1885a, p. 84 

 [and 1900, p. 76] (besides the types, found in creeks in ?DeKalb, [Kappa] 

 Woodford,* and Union* Counties, 111.).— Cragin, 1885, p. 107 (Kansas).— 

 ? Graham, 1885a, no. 30, p. [2] (Neosho R., Kans. [probably a misidenti- 

 fication of Noturus flavus or nocturnus]) ; 1885b, p. 71 (Osage R., Kans. 

 [Neosho R. a misidentification?]). — Call, 1887, p. 79 (Hinkson Cr., near 

 Columbia,* Mo.).— Jordan, 1889, p. 353.— Meek, 1889b, p. 168 (Iowa; 

 comparison; range); 1891, pp. 117-141 (description; Missouri records: Little 

 Dry Fork, near Rolla;* Jones Cr., Dixon;* Little Piney R., Newburg* and 



*Material indicated by an asterisk has been re-examined. 



