Checkered madtom

Like many other madtom, the Checkered Madtom has a stout body. The body is yellow and has four obvious saddle-like stripes of black on top. The bottom is white to yellow. The dorsal fin on the back has a black blotch on the top third of the fin. The caudal (tail) fin has a black bar at its base and at the end. The caudal fin is usually straight or slightly rounded.[2]

The Checkered Madtom is thought to be the second largest species of madtom commonly 4-7 inches, with the largest being Noturus flavus.[1]

The Checkered Madtom is uncommon in the upper White River system in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. Checkered Madtom has a disjunct population in the Jacks Fork and Current River (Missouri) in Missouri.[1]

The fish inhabits the margins of pools and in the backwaters of clear small or medium rivers, usually with a moderate to high gradient. It is often found among leaves and woody debris.[2] The fish is demersal—it stays near the bed of the body of water.[3]

Daytime habitat use in the Jacks Fork River, Missouri, found Checkered Madtom commonly associated with boulder substrate and an average water depth of 0.67 meters.[4]

Checkered Madtom are ready to spawn by April, but may not spawn until July. Males of 3 to 5 years guard the nests. Females most likely leave the nests while males remain to care for the embryos.[5]

Checkered madtom embryos resemble the embryos of other madtoms. Larvae 10 to 12 days old begin to have proportions resembling adults.[5]