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| status = LC
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=NatureServe |date=2013 |title=''Catostomus commersonii'' |volume=2013 |page=e.T202058A2733467 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202058A2733467.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=NatureServe |date=2013 |title=''Catostomus commersonii '' |volume=2013 |page=e.T202058A2733467 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202058A2733467.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| taxon = Catostomus commersonii
| taxon = Catostomus commersonii
| authority = ([[Bernard Germain de Lacépède|Lacépède]], 1803)
| authority = ([[Bernard Germain de Lacépède|Lacépède]], 1803)
| synonyms =
| synonyms =
* ''Cyprinus commersonii'' <br><small>Lacepède, 1803</small>
* ''Cyprinus commersonnii'' <br /><small>Lacepède, 1803</small>
* ''Cyprinus teres'' <br><small>[[Samuel L. Mitchill|Mitchill]], 1814</small>
* ''Cyprinus teres'' <br /><small>[[Samuel L. Mitchill|Mitchill]], 1814</small>
* ''Catostomus bostoniensis'' <br><small>[[Charles Alexandre Lesueur|Lesueur]], 1817</small>
* ''Catostomus bostoniensis'' <br /><small>[[Charles Alexandre Lesueur|Lesueur]], 1817</small>
* ''Catostomus communis'' <br><small>Lesueur, 1817</small>
* ''Catostomus communis'' <br /><small>Lesueur, 1817</small>
* ''Catostomus flexuosus'' <br><small>[[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque|Rafinesque]], 1820</small>
* ''Catostomus flexuosus'' <br /><small>[[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque|Rafinesque]], 1820</small>
* ''Cyprinus reticulatus'' <br><small>[[John Richardson (naturalist)|Richardson]], 1836</small>
* ''Cyprinus reticulatus'' <br /><small>[[John Richardson (naturalist)|Richardson]], 1836</small>
* ''Catostomus gracilis'' <br><small>[[Jared Potter Kirtland|Kirtland]], 1838</small>
* ''Catostomus gracilis'' <br /><small>[[Jared Potter Kirtland|Kirtland]], 1838</small>
* ''Catostomus pallidus'' <br><small>[[James Ellsworth De Kay|DeKay]], 1842</small>
* ''Catostomus pallidus'' <br /><small>[[James Ellsworth De Kay|DeKay]], 1842</small>
* ''Catostomus sucklii'' <br><small>[[Charles Frédéric Girard|Girard, 1856]]</small>
* ''Catostomus sucklii'' <br /><small>[[Charles Frédéric Girard|Girard, 1856]]</small>
* ''Catostomus chloropteron'' <br><small>[[Charles Conrad Abbott|Abbott]], 1860</small>
* ''Catostomus chloropteron'' <br /><small>[[Charles Conrad Abbott|Abbott]], 1860</small>
* ''Catostomus alticolus'' <br><small>[[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], 1874</small>
* ''Catostomus alticolus'' <br /><small>[[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], 1874</small>
* ''Moxostoma trisignatum'' <br><small>Cope, 1875</small>
* ''Moxostoma trisignatum'' <br /><small>Cope, 1875</small>
* ''Catostomus richardsoni'' <br><small>[[Francis Harper (biologist)|Harper]] & [[John Treadwell Nichols|Nichols]], 1919</small>
* ''Catostomus richardsoni'' <br /><small>[[Francis Harper (biologist)|Harper]] & [[John Treadwell Nichols|Nichols]], 1919</small>
| range_map = HUC Dispersal Map - Catostomus commersonii.png
| range_map = HUC Dispersal Map - Catostomus commersonii.png
| range_map_caption = Distribution in the United States (also occurs in Canada)
| range_map_caption = Distribution in the United States (also occurs in Canada)
}}
}}


The '''white sucker''' (''Catostomus commersonii)''<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=553273|title=ITIS Standard Report Page: Catostomus commersonii|website=www.itis.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=7971|title=Taxonomy Browser|last=taxonomy|website=www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov}}</ref> is a [[species]] of freshwater [[cypriniform]] fish inhabiting the upper Midwest and Northeast in [[North America]], but it is also found as far south as [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and as far west as [[New Mexico]]. The fish is commonly known as a "sucker" due to its fleshy, papillose lips that suck up organic matter and ''[[aufwuchs]]'' from the bottom of rivers and streams.
The '''white sucker''' ('''''Catostomus commersonii''''')<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=553273|title=ITIS Standard Report Page: ''Catostomus commersonii ''|website=www.itis.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=7971|title=Taxonomy Browser|last=taxonomy|website=www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov}}</ref> is a [[species]] of freshwater [[cypriniform]] fish inhabiting the upper Midwest and Northeast in [[North America]], but it is also found as far south as [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and as far west as [[New Mexico]]. The fish is commonly known as a "sucker" due to its fleshy, papillose lips that suck up organic matter and ''[[aufwuchs]]'' from the bottom of rivers and streams.


Other common names for the white sucker include '''bay fish''', '''brook sucker''', '''common sucker''', and '''mullet'''. The white sucker is often confused with the [[Longnose Sucker|longnose sucker]] (''C. catostomus''), because they look very similar.
Other common names for the white sucker include '''bay fish''', '''brook sucker''', '''common sucker''', and '''mullet'''. The white sucker is often confused with the [[Longnose Sucker|longnose sucker]] (''C. catostomus''), because they look very similar.
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==Description==
==Description==
The white sucker is a long, round-bodied fish with a dark green, grey, copper, brown, or black back and sides and a light underbelly. The fish also has typical features of primitive [[Cypriniformes]] fishes, such as a homocercal tail, [[cycloid scale]]s, and dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fin rays.<ref name="Grinnell">Grinnell, Jon; [[species:Floyd Leslie Downs|Downs, Floyd]]. "Vertebrate Zoology Biology 242 Laboratory Instructions". Gustavus Adolphus College.</ref> When full grown, it can reach lengths of {{convert|12|–|20|in|cm|abbr=on}} and weigh {{convert|2|–|6|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. The fish's [[suckermouth]], with its fleshy lips, is located in an inferior position at the bottom of its head, as the fish obtains its food from bottom surfaces.<ref name="Grinnell" /> The white sucker is often mistaken for different species of suckers and [[redhorse]], but can be distinguished by the complete [[lateral line]] system containing 55-85 small scales.<ref name="Rook">Rook, J.S.E. "''Catostomus commersoni'' / White Sucker". 1999. http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/fish/catostomuscom.html</ref>
The white sucker is a long, round-bodied fish with a dark green, grey, copper, brown, or black back and sides and a light underbelly. The fish also has typical features of primitive [[Cypriniformes]] fishes, such as a homocercal tail, [[cycloid scale]]s, and dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fin rays.<ref name="Grinnell">Grinnell, Jon; [[species:Floyd Leslie Downs|Downs, Floyd]]. "Vertebrate Zoology Biology 242 Laboratory Instructions". Gustavus Adolphus College.</ref> When full grown, it can reach lengths of {{convert|12|–|20|in|cm|abbr=on}} and weigh {{convert|2|–|6|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. The fish's [[suckermouth]], with its fleshy lips, is located in an inferior position at the bottom of its head, as the fish obtains its food from bottom surfaces.<ref name="Grinnell" /> The white sucker is often mistaken for different species of suckers and [[redhorse]]s, but can be distinguished by the complete [[lateral line]] system containing 55-85 small scales.<ref name="Rook">Rook, J.S.E. "''Catostomus commersoni'' / White Sucker". 1999. http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/fish/catostomuscom.html</ref> The white sucker is able to use chemosensory to sense and avoid predators and other conspecific species during day and night.<ref name="Jordbro">Jordbro, Di Rocco, R. T., Imre, I., Johnson, N. S., & Brown, G. E. "White sucker
Catostomus commersonii respond to conspecific and sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus alarm cues but not potential predator cues. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 42(4), 849–853.
". https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2016.04.003</ref>


==Distribution and habitat==
==Distribution and habitat==
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==Diet habits==
==Diet habits==
The white sucker is a [[bottom feeder]], meaning that it uses its fleshy lips to suck up bottom sediments and other organisms that may be located there. It will eat almost anything it can, but most commonly small [[invertebrate]]s, [[algae]], and [[plant]] matter. Larger predatory fish species such as [[walleye]], [[trout]], [[bass (fish)|bass]], [[northern pike]], [[catfish]], [[muskellunge]], and [[sauger]] naturally prey on the white sucker.{{Cn|date=March 2021}}
The white sucker is a [[bottom feeder]], meaning that it uses its fleshy lips to suck up bottom sediments and other organisms that may be located there. It will eat almost anything it can, but most commonly small [[invertebrate]]s, [[algae]], and [[plant]] matter. Larger predatory fish species such as [[walleye]], [[trout]], [[bass (fish)|bass]], [[northern pike]], [[catfish]], [[muskellunge]], and [[sauger]] naturally prey on the white sucker.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}


==Reproduction==
==Reproduction==
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==Importance to humans==
==Importance to humans==
A very common fish, the white sucker is usually not fished for food, though some consider it good to eat. It is most often used as [[bait fish|bait]]; the young are sold as sucker minnows. When it is eaten by humans, it is usually processed and sold under the name of [[mullet (fish)|mullet]]. The [[IGFA]] world record for white sucker stands at 6 lb 8 oz (2.94 kg) taken from the [[Rainy River (Minnesota–Ontario)|Rainy River]] near [[Loman, Minnesota]] in 1984.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sucker, White |url=https://igfa.org/igfa-world-records-search/?search_type=CommonNameSummary&search_term_1=Sucker%2C+white |website=igfa.org |publisher=International Game Fish Association |access-date=14 May 2019}}</ref>
A very common fish, the white sucker is usually not fished for food, though some consider it good to eat. It is most often used as [[bait fish|bait]]; the young are sold as sucker minnows. When it is eaten by humans, it is usually processed and sold under the name of [[mullet (fish)|mullet]]. The [[IGFA]] world record for white sucker stands at 6&nbsp;lb 8 oz (2.94&nbsp;kg) taken from the [[Rainy River (Minnesota–Ontario)|Rainy River]] near [[Loman, Minnesota]] in 1984.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sucker, White |url=https://igfa.org/igfa-world-records-search/?search_type=CommonNameSummary&search_term_1=Sucker%2C+white |website=igfa.org |publisher=International Game Fish Association |access-date=14 May 2019}}</ref>


==Fossil record==
==Fossil record==
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==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*[[Bernard Germain de Lacépède|Lacépède BG]] (1803). ''Histoire naturelle des poissons, Tome cinquème''. Paris: Chez Plassan. lxviii + 803 pp. (''Cyprinus commersonnii'', new species, pp.&nbsp;604–611). (in French and Latin).


==External links==
==External links==
*{{FishBase_species|genus=Catostomus|species=commersonii|year=2006|month=06}}
*{{FishBase|genus=Catostomus|species=commersonii|year=2006|month=06}}
*{{cite web |url= https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080723190731.htm|title= Hybrid 'Muttsucker' Has Genes Of Three Species|access-date=2008-08-15 |date= Aug 15, 2008|publisher= Science Daily}}
*{{cite web |url= https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080723190731.htm|title= Hybrid 'Muttsucker' Has Genes Of Three Species|access-date=2008-08-15 |date= Aug 15, 2008|publisher= Science Daily}}
*[http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/fish/catostomuscom.html Species profile by Earl J.S. Rook]
*[http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/fish/catostomuscom.html Species profile by Earl J.S. Rook]
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q2942992}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2942992}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Catostomus]]
[[Category:Catostomus]]

Latest revision as of 02:26, 4 December 2023

White sucker
Temporal range: Early Pleistocene to recent
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Catostomidae
Genus: Catostomus
Species:
C. commersonii
Binomial name
Catostomus commersonii
(Lacépède, 1803)
Distribution in the United States (also occurs in Canada)
Synonyms
  • Cyprinus commersonnii
    Lacepède, 1803
  • Cyprinus teres
    Mitchill, 1814
  • Catostomus bostoniensis
    Lesueur, 1817
  • Catostomus communis
    Lesueur, 1817
  • Catostomus flexuosus
    Rafinesque, 1820
  • Cyprinus reticulatus
    Richardson, 1836
  • Catostomus gracilis
    Kirtland, 1838
  • Catostomus pallidus
    DeKay, 1842
  • Catostomus sucklii
    Girard, 1856
  • Catostomus chloropteron
    Abbott, 1860
  • Catostomus alticolus
    Cope, 1874
  • Moxostoma trisignatum
    Cope, 1875
  • Catostomus richardsoni
    Harper & Nichols, 1919

The white sucker (Catostomus commersonii)[1][2][3] is a species of freshwater cypriniform fish inhabiting the upper Midwest and Northeast in North America, but it is also found as far south as Georgia and as far west as New Mexico. The fish is commonly known as a "sucker" due to its fleshy, papillose lips that suck up organic matter and aufwuchs from the bottom of rivers and streams.

Other common names for the white sucker include bay fish, brook sucker, common sucker, and mullet. The white sucker is often confused with the longnose sucker (C. catostomus), because they look very similar.

Etymology

[edit]

The specific name, commersonii, is in honor of French naturalist Philibert Commerson.[4]

Description

[edit]

The white sucker is a long, round-bodied fish with a dark green, grey, copper, brown, or black back and sides and a light underbelly. The fish also has typical features of primitive Cypriniformes fishes, such as a homocercal tail, cycloid scales, and dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fin rays.[5] When full grown, it can reach lengths of 12–20 in (30–51 cm) and weigh 2–6 lb (0.91–2.72 kg). The fish's suckermouth, with its fleshy lips, is located in an inferior position at the bottom of its head, as the fish obtains its food from bottom surfaces.[5] The white sucker is often mistaken for different species of suckers and redhorses, but can be distinguished by the complete lateral line system containing 55-85 small scales.[6] The white sucker is able to use chemosensory to sense and avoid predators and other conspecific species during day and night.[7]

Distribution and habitat

[edit]

The white sucker is highly adaptable to different habitats and changing environmental influences.[6] Generally, the white sucker is found in small streams, rivers, and lakes in the Midwest and East Coast of the United States.[8] The white sucker is also relatively tolerant of turbid and polluted waters.[6] It does, however, have low breeding success in acidified waters, which can be caused by acid rain.[9]

Diet habits

[edit]

The white sucker is a bottom feeder, meaning that it uses its fleshy lips to suck up bottom sediments and other organisms that may be located there. It will eat almost anything it can, but most commonly small invertebrates, algae, and plant matter. Larger predatory fish species such as walleye, trout, bass, northern pike, catfish, muskellunge, and sauger naturally prey on the white sucker.[citation needed]

Reproduction

[edit]

The white sucker usually spawns in shallow water or streams in April and May; spawning may possibly be initiated by temperature changes and runoff from early snow melt.[6] Two or more males may gather with one female, which releases up to 10,000 eggs that can be fertilized by the gathered males.[8]

Importance to humans

[edit]

A very common fish, the white sucker is usually not fished for food, though some consider it good to eat. It is most often used as bait; the young are sold as sucker minnows. When it is eaten by humans, it is usually processed and sold under the name of mullet. The IGFA world record for white sucker stands at 6 lb 8 oz (2.94 kg) taken from the Rainy River near Loman, Minnesota in 1984.[10]

Fossil record

[edit]

Fossils of this fish, C. commersonii, in the United States occur as early as the Early Pleistocene (1.8 million years ago).[11]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b NatureServe (2013). "Catostomus commersonii ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T202058A2733467. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202058A2733467.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Catostomus commersonii ". www.itis.gov.
  3. ^ taxonomy. "Taxonomy Browser". www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
  4. ^ "White Sucker". NatureNorth. http://www.naturenorth.com.
  5. ^ a b Grinnell, Jon; Downs, Floyd. "Vertebrate Zoology Biology 242 Laboratory Instructions". Gustavus Adolphus College.
  6. ^ a b c d Rook, J.S.E. "Catostomus commersoni / White Sucker". 1999. http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/fish/catostomuscom.html
  7. ^ Jordbro, Di Rocco, R. T., Imre, I., Johnson, N. S., & Brown, G. E. "White sucker Catostomus commersonii respond to conspecific and sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus alarm cues but not potential predator cues. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 42(4), 849–853. ". https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2016.04.003
  8. ^ a b Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. "White Sucker" 2012.
  9. ^ "A Canadian Scientist Explains How Acid Rain is Still Making its Mark". IISD Experimental Lakes Area. 2018-05-16. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  10. ^ "Sucker, White". igfa.org. International Game Fish Association. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  11. ^ "Fossilworks: Catostomidae". paleodb.org.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Lacépède BG (1803). Histoire naturelle des poissons, Tome cinquème. Paris: Chez Plassan. lxviii + 803 pp. (Cyprinus commersonnii, new species, pp. 604–611). (in French and Latin).
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=White_sucker&oldid=1188229312"