Iowa DNR
BioNet
River & Stream Biological Monitoring
Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Surveys
Physical Habitat Assessments

Stonecat Noturus flavus

Family
Ictaluridae (North American Catfishes)
Tolerance
Intermediate
Trophic Class
Benthic Invertivore
Is Exotic to Iowa?
False
Is Lithophilous Spawner?
False
Is Hybrid?
False
State Listing Status
Not Listed
Assessment Program Statistics

This species was found at 371 bioassessment sites, 10 rapid fish bioassessment sites, 65 fisheries assessment sites, and 3 fisheries presence-only assessment sites. In total, it was collected at 437 distinct sites, or 28.9% of the 1511 total sites monitored by the bioassessment program. It is the 16th most commonly collected species.

The Stonecat was collected in 792 bioassessment sampling sessions and 134 fisheries assessment sessions. It was present in 10 rapid bioassessment sessions and 3 presence-only sessions.

The biological assessment program has collected a total of 6,347 individual Stonecat specimens, ranking it the #39 most collected fish.

Species Characteristics

Body color is yellowish-green to olive above and light below. The premaxillary band of teeth, a pad-like band on the upper jaw, is U-shaped, and the chin barbels are yellow. There are usually 16 rays in the anal fin. This fish has been known to reach 12-inches long, but it rarely exceeds 6- to 8-inches. Most anglers can distinguish this species from the other catfishes, but some confuse them with the young of other species.

Species Distribution Maps

HUC12 watersheds where this species has been found