The Mountain Madtom is found throughout the Ohio River Drainage, including the Tennessee and Cumberland river drainages, as well the Ouachita and Ozark mountains. As the common name suggests, Mountain Madtoms live in rocky riffles and runs of small to large upland rivers. As members of the catfish family, all madtoms have whiskers (barbels) around their mouth with taste buds that aid in finding food. Like all members of the genus Noturus, Mountain Madtoms are smaller catfish reaching a maximum size of five inches.