Key Characteristics:
- Anal opening very far back, more than in Cyprinidae.
- A line of pigment along the top of the fish, and a thinner one along lateral line.
- Sleek “minnowy” look
- As they grow, mouth will look rounder and you will begin to see downturned sucker begin to form.
- In Lake Michigan the more prevelant Catostomidae are white suckers
- Fins remain undefined and close to the body for most of larval stages.
- Body not elongated, eel-shaped, round in transverse section, uniformly pigmented (1B)
- Chin barbels absent (3B)
- Snout short, its length usually less than 10% TL; median fins otherwise (5B)
- Median fins or finfolds showing distinct separation (7B)
- No adipose fin, or demarcation of one, in finfold (10B)
- Preanal myomeres greater than or equal to postanal myomeres (14A)
- Preanal myomeres significantly greater than postanal myomeres (difference greater than five myomeres) (15B)
- Postanal myomeres usually less than or equal to 10 (26A)
- Preanal length 59 – 73% TL, ratio of preanal to postanal myomeres less than or equal to 5.0 (27B)
- Catostomidae – Suckers
Adult History
- Physical Description
- Cylindrical-shaped, rounded head, 55-85 lateral scales, snout barely extends lower lip, back is green/brown while the belly is white, and sides are gray, anal fin is far posterior with 7 rays, 10-13 dorsal rays, and breeders have a lateral stripe
- Spawning Habitat
- Migrate up tributaries in riffles
- Near the shoreline of lakes
- Spawning Substrate
- Shoreline Shallows in gravel or coarse sand bottoms (quick running water)
- Spawning Behavior
- Males may head tremble towards the female, protrude their jaw, or extend their dorsal fin
- Courtship Behaviors
- Do not build nests or defend their territory
- Males may head tremble towards the female, protrude their jaw, or extend their dorsal fin
- Time of Year
- April – May in Lake Michigan
- Spawning typically takes place at water temperatures of 45-50°F
- Diet (Benthonic Fish)
- Omnivores
- Invertebrates, insects, crustaceans, plant matter
- Omnivores