Smoky madtom catfish (scientific name Notorus baileyi)

The Smoky madtom, which is on the United States government's endangered species list, has the whiskers that are typically found in catfish. However, it is not large like the catfish fishermen catch to eat for dinner. The Smoky madtom catfish is tiny--the largest adult will grow no bigger than 73 mm (2.9 inches). That's about the size of an adult human's finger!

Smoky madtoms live in the riffles (tiny pools) of streams. They are active at night. They are very shy and will hide under a boulder if spotted.

Source: The Fishes of Tennessee, by David A. Etnier and Wayne C. Starnes. Knoxville: The University of Tennessee Press, 1993.

Photograph by J.R. Shute