Longnose sucker (Catostomus catostomus catostomus)

Scientific name: Catostomus catostomus catostomus Forster, 1773

The Longnose sucker (Catostomus catostomus catostomus) is a freshwater fish of the family Catostomidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 15°C (59°F).

Longnose sucker care at a glance

Temperature: 15°C (59°F)

Biology

Found in clear, cold, deep water of lakes and tributary streams; occasionally found in brackish water in the Arctic. Moves from lakes into inlet streams or from slow, deep pools into shallow, gravel-bottomed portions of streams to spawn. Feeds on benthic invertebrates. Young are preyed upon by other fishes and fish-eating birds; while adults in spawning streams are taken by mammals, osprey and eagles. Utilized as a food fish or as dog food.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Catostomus catostomus catostomus
Family: Catostomidae (Suckers)
Order: Cypriniformes (Carps)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 64.0
Common length: 22.5
Depth range: 180 m (591 ft)
Environment: Freshwater; brackish;; pH range: 6.5 - 7.8; dH range: 5 - 25 demersal; depth range ? - 180 m
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: North America: throughout most of Canada and Alaska; Atlantic Slope south to Delaware River drainage in New York, USA; Great Lakes basin; upper Monongahela River drainage in Maryland and West Virginia, USA; Missouri River drainage south to Nebraska and Colorado, USA. Also in Arctic basin of Siberia in Russia. Occurs in Columbia River System (Molly Hallock, pers. comm.).
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=2-10; tm=20)