up to 12 inches long; yellowish-green to olive above and light
below; chin barbels yellow small fish, aquatic invertebrates
Stone cat is found commonly in swift-flowing streams and is
quite common and widely distributed in the interior streams. It
is taken occasionally in some of the natural lakes and in the
Mississippi River. The stone cat, together with the other
madtoms, represents the smallest fishes in the catfish family.
Body color of this fish is yellowish-green to olive above and
light below. The premaxillary band of teeth, a padlike band on
the upper jaw, is U-shaped, and the chin barbels are yellow.
There are usually 16 rays in the anal fin. The fish has been
known to reach a length of 12 inches, although it rarely exceeds
6 to 8 inches. Most fishermen seem to distinguish this species
from the other catfishes, but some confuse them with the young
of other species. The stone cat spawns in spring and, like all
catfishes, builds a nest and guards the eggs and young. Madtoms
exhibit an affinity for noct