CATFISH GENTJS NOTURUS RAFINESQUE 131 



fin not extending to the margin, or if to the margin the caudal rays are 52 



or fewer (the furiosus species group) 8 



A submarginal dark caudal band but no midcaudal crescentic bar, or if a 

 bar is present, a more prominent dark bar crosses caudal peduncle; dark 

 bar on adipose fin always extending to margin; dorsal fin with a distal black 

 blotch (except flavipinnis) ; caudal rays 51, typically 53 or more (the 

 miurus species group) 11 



8. Adipose blotch dusky, entering only basal half of fin; caudal rays 50 to 59, 



usually 52 to 58; no distinctive, discrete, round, brownish chromatophores 

 on abdomen ; anterior serrae of pectoral spines poorly developed, or reduced 



and irregular Noturus placidus, new species 



Adipose blotch dark brown, entering upper half of fin in juveniles and adults; 

 anterior serrae of pectoral spine prominent, sharp, and well developed . 9 



9. Adipose blotch extending to fin margin; caudal rays 45 to 52, usually 46 



to 50; vertebrae 30 to 33, usually 31 or 32; lower head, abdomen, and 

 lower base of pelvic fins sprinkled with numerous small, rounded, discrete, 

 brown chromatophores; head length stepped 2.7 to 3.3 times in standard 



length Noturus munitus 



Adipose blotch not reaching fin margin; caudal rays 47 to 60, usually 49 to 

 58; vertebrae 31 to 36, usually 33 to 35; head length stepped 3.1 to 3.8 

 times in standard length 10 



10. Caudal rays usually 49 to 53; only anterior part of abdomen with distinct, 



round, brownish chromatophores in smaller individuals, these often 

 obscured in large individuals; a pair of large light spots, typically en- 

 closed in dark saddle, just anterior to dorsal fin base. 



Noturus stigmosus, new species 



Caudal rays usually 53 to 58; no distinctive round, brownish chromatophores 



on abdomen; dark saddle at dorsal fin nearly uniform anterior to dorsal 



fin base, without a pair of light spots Noturus furiosus 



11. Anterior ends of infraorbital and supraorbital canals typically connected 



(1 internasal pore); a jet black blotch distally on first 3 or 4 dorsal rays; 

 adipose and caudal fins moderately connected; basicaudal bar seldom prom- 

 inent on caudal peduncle, usually confined to posterior edge of peduncle 



and base of caudal rays Noturus miurus 



Anterior ends of infraorbital and supraorbital canals typically distinct (2 

 internasal pores) ; basicaudal bar extending rather broadly across caudal 

 peduncle 12 



12. Dorsal fin mostly yellowish, with faint brown pigment, without a prominent 



black blotch; adipose and caudal fins moderately connected; basicaudal 

 brownish bar extending broadly across caudal peduncle where it widens 



into a blotch Noturus flavipinnis, new species 



A jet black blotch distally on dorsal rays; adipose fin nearly free from caudal 

 fin; basicaudal bar jet black, of subuniform width, broadly crossing 

 caudal peduncle Noturus flavater, new species 



The HiLDEBRANDi Group 

 Noturus hildebrandi (Bailey and Taylor) 



LEAST MADTOM 



Plates 4 (figs. 1-2), 10; Map 9 



Diagnosis. — Noturus (Rabida) hildebrandi with typically eight 

 pelvic rays, a short caudal fin, and reduced anterior serrae of the 

 pectoral spine plus a very short posterior process of the cleithrum 



