Fauna
Fish

White Sucker

Catostomus commersonii

The White Sucker is a sturdy freshwater fish with a cylindrical body and a fleshy, downward-facing mouth. It searches river and lake bottoms for small animals, algae, and organic material, often moving into streams to spawn.

Freshwater FishBottom FeederStream Spawner
White Sucker reference
(c) Quinn, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Quinn · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyMidge larvae, Small crustaceans, Mollusks
Predators
  • Northern pike
  • Walleye
  • Fish-eating birds
ThreatsPollution, warming water, barriers to spawning movement, sedimentation, and habitat alteration
HabitatsRivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, and cool tributaries with varied bottoms
Life spanOften 10 to 15 years, with some individuals exceeding 20 years
Classification
  1. FamilyCatostomidae
  2. SpeciesCatostomus commersonii
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Observe spawning schools from shore and avoid wading through shallow breeding areas.
Responsible observation
  • Look: Search clear shallows for fish holding close to the bottom.
  • Identify: Notice the thick downturned lips and single short dorsal fin.
  • Respect: Keep sediment and footwear out of active spawning runs.
Related species

Related species have not been added yet.

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