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Fish

Suckers
  

Family: Catostomidae - Suckers

Globe icon indicates a link to a non-NOAA siteFamily Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Distribution and Habitat

N=Native, I=Introduced (exotic), X=Extinct, P=Extirpated

Image/Link Scientific Name Common Name Lake Superior Lake Michigan

Lake Huron

 Lake Erie Lake Ontario Habitat
quillback Carpiodes cyprinus quillback   N N N N river/littoral
longnose sucker Catostomus catostomus longnose sucker N N N N N stream/creek/river/littoral/benthic
white sucker Catostomus commersoni white sucker N N N N N stream/creek/river/littoral
creek chubsucker Erimyzon oblongus creek chubsucker   N   N N stream/creek/river/littoral, tributaries only
lake chubsucker Erimyzon sucetta lake chubsucker   N N N N stream/creek/river
northern hog sucker Hypentelium nigricans northern hog sucker   N N N N stream/creek/river
bigmouth buffalo Ictiobus cyprinellus bigmouth buffalo   N   N   river/littoral
black buffalo Ictiobus niger black buffalo   N I I   river
  Lagochila lacera harelip sucker       P   stream/creek, tributaries only
spotted sucker Minytrema melanops spotted sucker   N N N   stream/creek/river
silver redhorse Moxostoma anisurum silver redhorse N N N N N stream/creek/river/littoral
river redhorse Moxostoma carinatum river redhorse   N   N   river/littoral, tributaries only
black redhorse Moxostoma duquesnei black redhorse     N N   stream/creek/river
golden redhorse Moxostoma erythrurum golden redhorse   N N N N stream/creek/river
shorthead redhorse Moxostoma macrolopidotum shorthead redhorse N N N N N stream/creek/river/littoral
greater redhorse Moxostoma valenciennesi greater redhorse N N N N N stream/creek/river/littoral

Table modified from "The Life of the Lakes: A Guide to the Great Lakes Fishery" MI Sea Grant Extension, Michigan State University.

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Species Profiles

Carpiodes cyprinus - quillback

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. Profile - Fish of Indiana
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. Profile - Fishes of Minnesota
Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteScientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

 Vacuum cleaners of the stream where the bottom is soft; they consume all kinds of bottom detritus (decaying matter), plant matter, and insect larvae, especially midge larvae. They probably consume as much dead matter as living matter. Larval quillbacks begin life eating waterfleas and other small plankton (floating microscopic plants and animals) from the water column. Length to 65cm.

quillback drawing

GLERL Waterlife Photo Gallery

quillback drawing

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. Fish of Indiana

1 of 3 quillback photos in the UM collection

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

young-of-year quillback

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. Fishes of Minnesota

Catostomus catostomus - longnose sucker

Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteProfile - Wisconsin Sea Grant
Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteProfile - Madison Jason Wisconsin Sea Grant
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. Profile - Fish of Indiana
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. Identifying Michigan Sport Fish - MI DNR
Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA site Scientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Feed on benthos. Length to 60 cm.

longnose sucker photo - Shedd aquarium

Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteWisconsin Sea Grant

Additional drawings/artwork:
Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteMadison Jason Wisconsin Sea Grant

Additional Photos:
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. Fishes of Minnesota
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Catostomus commersoni - white sucker

Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteProfile - Wisconsin Sea Grant
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. Profile - Fish of Indiana
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Profile - Inland Fishes of New York
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. Identifying Michigan Sport Fish - MI DNR
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. Profile - Fishes of Minnesota
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. Profile - Great Lakes Field Guide - A Superior Adventure - Bell Museum
Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteScientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

 Feed on benthic insects and small mollusks. Length to 75 cm. Minnesota's hook and line record for this fish is 4.12 kg (9 lbs 1 oz).

white sucker drawing

GLERL Waterlife Photo Gallery

white sucker photo

Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteWisconsin Sea Grant

Additional drawings/artwork:
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Fish of Indiana
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Inland Fishes of New York

Additional photos:
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Fishes of Minnesota
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

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Erimyzon oblongus - creek chubsucker

Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteScientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

 Feed on plankton and benthos. Length to 28 cm.

creek chubsucker (photo credit Bob Jenkins and Noel Burkhead)

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.The Virtual Aquarium at Virginia Tech

1 of 3 creek chubsucker photos in the UM collection

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Erimyzon sucetta - lake chubsucker

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Profile - Inland Fishes of New York
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Profile - Fish of Indiana
Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteScientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

 Feed on plankton and benthos. Length to 25 cm in our area; larger in south.

Lake chubsucker artwork
Inland Fishes of New York

1 of 3 lake chubsucker photos in the UM collection

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

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Hypentelium nigricans - northern hog sucker

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Profile - Fish of Indiana
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Profile - Inland Fishes of New York
Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteScientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

 Feed on benthos - immature aquatic insects, small mollusks and crustaceans. Length to 60 cm.

1 of 5 northern hogsucker photos in the UM collection

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Additional drawings/artwork:
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.US Fish and Wildlife Service
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Inland Fishes of New York

Additional photos:
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Fishes of Minnesota
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.The Virtual Aquarium at Virginia Tech

Ictiobus cyprinellus - bigmouth buffalo

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Profile - Fish of Indiana
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Profile - Fishes of Minnesota
Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteScientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

 Feeds on plankton (copepods and cladocerans) and benthic insects, mollusks, small fish, eggs and some plant material. Length to 70 cm. The Minnesota state's record for this fish is 18.5 kg (41lbs11oz).

bigmouth buffalo drawing

GLERL Waterlife Photo Gallery

1 of 6 bigmouth buffalo photos in the UM collection

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Additional drawings/artwork:
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site. US Fish and Wildlife Service
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Fish of Indiana

 

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Ictiobus niger - black buffalo

Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteScientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

 Feed on benthos - a variety of molluscs, aquatic insects and their larvae, small crustacreans and other animal matter. Length to 70 cm.

1 of 7 black buffalo photos in the UM collection

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Lagochila lacera - harelip sucker
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Not seen since 1900. A specialized snail eater. Length to 45 cm.

Minytrema melanops - spotted sucker

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Profile - Fish of Indiana
Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteScientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

 Feed on benthos - cladocerans, copepods, ostracods and plant materials that includes algae. Length to 60 cm.

Spotted sucker artwork

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.US Fish and Wildlife Service

spotted sucker photo

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Fishes of Minnesota

1 of 6 spotted sucker photos in the UM collection

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

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Moxostoma anisurum - silver redhorse

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Profile - Fish of Indiana
Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteScientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

 Feed on benthos - aquatic insect larvae, some plant material, crustaceans and small mollusks. Length to 60 cm.

young-of-year silver redhorsesilver redhorse photosilver redhorse mouth closeup

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Fishes of Minnesota

1 of 6 silver redhorse photos in the UM collection1 of 9 silver redhorse skeleton photos in the UM collection

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Moxostoma carinatum - river redhorse

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Profile - Fish of Indiana
Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteScientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

 A sensitive indicator of good water quality. Length to 70 cm. Feed primarily on small mollusks and benthic insects.

1 of 3 river redhorse photos in the UM collection1 of 5 river redhorse skeleton photos in the UM collection

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

river redhorse photo

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Fishes of Minnesota

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Moxostoma duquesnei - black redhorse

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Profile - Fish of Indiana
Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteScientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

 Feed on benthic insects and small mollusks. An indicator of good water quality. Length to 40 cm.

black redhorse photo

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Fishes of Minnesota

black redhorse (photo credit Bob Jenkins and Noel Burkhead)

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.The Virtual Aquarium at Virginia Tech

1 of 6 black redhorse photos in the UM collection

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Moxostoma erythrurum - golden redhorse

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Profile - Fish of Indiana
Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteScientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

 Feed on benthic insects and small mollusks. An indicator of good water quality. Length to 65 cm.

1 of 7 golden redhorse photos in the UM collection

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

golden redhorse (photo credit Bob Jenkins and Noel Burkhead)

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.The Virtual Aquarium at Virginia Tech

golden redhorse photo

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Fishes of Minnesota

Moxostoma macrolepidotum - shorthead redhorse

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Profile - Fish of Indiana
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Profile - Fishes of Minnesota
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Profile - Inland Fishes of New York
Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteScientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Strongly insectivorous (insect eating);.their main diet is insect larvae that they glean from the stream bottom. They also consume fair numbers of waterfleas, copepods, and sideswimmers, along with a smattering of worms and other small invertebrates. Unlike other suckers, they eat very little plant matter or detritus (decaying plant matter). Length to 60 cm.

shorthead redhorse drawing

GLERL Waterlife PhotoGallery

shorthead redhorse (photo credit Bob Jenkins and Noel Burkhead)

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.The Virtual Aquarium at Virginia Tech

Additional drawings/artwork:
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Fish of Indiana
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Profile - Inland Fishes of New York

Addtional photos:
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Fishes of Minnesota

Moxostoma valenciennesi - greater redhorse

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Profile - Inland Fishes of New York
Bird icon indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteScientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

 An indicator of good water quality. Feed on benthos - aquatic insect larvae and mollusks. Length to 60 cm.

greater redhorse artwork
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Profile - Inland Fishes of New York

young-of-year greater redhorse

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.Fishes of Minnesota

Additional Photos:
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site.University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

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Globe iconIndicates a link to a non-NOAA website or content not generated by NOAA. NOAA is not responsible for the accuracy of content. Please check Privacy and Use Policies of the destination site.
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Last Updated: 2006-11-28

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