Rocky stream habitat
FishBase places it in clear, swift streams with moderate to large channels and relatively steep gradients. Shallow riffles over gravel, cobble and larger stones are characteristic habitat, although it occasionally enters shallow pools. The habitat description is more specific than simply “river fish”: current and coarse bottom material are important parts of the record.
Sources: Noturus maydeni species summary
Identification
The published summary gives seven soft rays in the dorsal fin and 15–17 in the anal fin. Such counts are useful in a specimen-based key, but are difficult to judge from a casual underwater view. The original description addresses its separation from closely similar madtoms; a collection locality by itself should not replace those identification characters.
Sources: Noturus maydeni species summary
