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Pantosteus clarkii

(Baird and Girard, 1854)

Desert Sucker

G4Apparently Secure Found in 8 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100434
Element CodeAFCJC02040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderCypriniformes
FamilyCatostomidae
GenusPantosteus
Synonyms
Catostomus clarkiBaird and Girard, 1854Catostomus clarkiiBaird and Girard, 1854Pantosteus clarki(Baird and Girard, 1854)
Concept Reference
Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20. 183 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
Unmack et al. (2014) elevated the subgenus Pantosteus to generic status based on a comparison of molecular, morphological, and paleontological data. Page et al. (2023) accepted this elevation, but others (e.g., Bangs et al. 2018) retain as a subgenus pending additional morphological and molecular analyses.

Taxonomic status of Catostomus clarkii intermedius is unstable. Minckley and Marsh (2009) treated intermedius as a species (Pantosteus intermedius) whereas as Jelks et al. (2008) listed it as Catostomus clarkii intermedius. Page and Burr (2011) did not recognize intermedius at any level.

See Clarkson and Minckley (1988) for information on hybridization between Catostomus clarkii and Catostomus insignis. See Smith (1992) for a study of the phylogeny and biogeography of the Catostomidae. See also Crabtree and Buth (1987) for information on taxonomic relationships.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-05-21
Change Date2025-05-21
Edition Date2025-05-21
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G., and M. K. Clausen (2011); rev. R. L. Gundy (2025)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
This species occupies the Colorado River basin below the Grand Canyon. Habitat degradation due to dams, water usage, and the introduction of invasive species has caused historical declines.
Range Extent Comments
The range includes the lower Colorado River basin below Grand Canyon: remnant waters of the pluvial White River system (subspecies intermedius) and Meadow Valley Wash and Clover Creek (undescribed subspecies), Nevada; Virgin River basin, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada (subspecies utahensis); Bill Williams River basin, Arizona; and Gila River drainage, Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Sonora, México (La Rivers 1962, Lee et al. 1980, Deacon and Williams 1984, Sublette et al. 1990, Page and Burr 1991, Sigler and Sigler 1996, Miller 2005, Minckley and Marsh 2009, Page and Burr 2011). Extirpated in Pahranagat Valley and very rare in upper White River Valley except in Lund town Spring (Deacon and Williams 1984). Miller (2005) mapped two sites in northern Sonora (rios Santa Cruz and San Pedro). Using Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2025) records, range extent is estimated to be 306,775 km² (RARECAT 2025).

Virgin River subspecies utahensis has been introduced as a baitfish in the lower Colorado River (Miller 1952).
Occurrences Comments
There are many dozens of occurrences.

Turner and List (2007) determined that this species occurs in 87 streams in Arizona. Across the entire range, Minckley and Marsh (2009) mapped well over 100 collection sites from 1980 and later. TNHC (1996) mapped 129 collection sites, including 4 in Utah, 13 in Nevada, 92 in Arizona, 17 in New Mexico, and 3 in México. Sublette et al. (1990) mapped more than 60 post-1960 collection sites in New Mexico. In Nevada, 15 documented sites; probably extirpated in 5 of the 15 sites; condition of extant sites for C. c. intermedius estimated to be 25% excellent, 25% good, and 50% poor and for the population in the Meadow Valley Wash (subspecies 2)33% excellent and 66% poor (C. Grant, pers. comm., 1997). An estimated 4-6 occurrences exist in Utah (Oliver 1997). In Arizona, 107 documented occurrences; an estimated 21-100 extant occurrences in good to fair condition (S. Schwartz, pers. comm., 1997). Miller (2005) mapped two locations in México.
Threat Impact Comments
This species has been subject to a number of invasive fish species being introduced by humans within the range. This species has been shown to be somewhat resilient to the presence of invasive fishes, both competitors and predators. While this species often utilizes habitat differently when invasive fish are present, the population has been more resilient than other native fish within the same waterway (Pool et al. 2013, Zaimes et al. 2019, Rogosch and Olden 2020, Jenney et al. 2023). Juveniles seem to be most impacted by the presence of predatory invasive fish species (Jenney et al. 2022). The removal of invasive fish species can, however, drastically improve populations of this species while also greatly benefiting other native species (Hickerson et al. 2021).

Past threats from dams and other forms of water diversion have already taken their toll throughout the range (Sigler and Sigler 1996, Jelks et al. 2008). However, increasing development means that water withdrawals for anthropogenic use may continue to increase and decline habitat quality.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Typical habitat consists of small to medium rivers with pools and riffles; individuals occur mainly over bottoms of gravel-rubble with sandy silt in interstices (Sublette et al. 1990). These suckers avoid or are unable to persist in reservoirs and lakes (Minckley and Marsh 2009). Large adults occupy pools during the day (in shady areas near cliff faces, boulders, or large woody debris), and move to riffles at night and during periods of high turbidity. Young tend to congregate along banks in quiet water among aquatic plants or algae, and move to swifter water as they increase in size (Minckley 1973, Sublette et al. 1990, Sigler and Sigler 1996, Minckley and Marsh 2009). This sucker tolerates a wide range of temperatures (Sublette et al. 1990) but is relatively intolerant of low dissolved oxygen levels (Lowe et al. 1967). Spawning occurs on gravel-and-cobble bottoms of riffles and rapids (Sublette et al. 1990, Minckley and Marsh 2009).

Reproduction

Spawning occurs in winter and spring (January-May) in Arizona (Lee et al. 1980); July to August in warm-spring outflows in Nevada and headwaters of the Gila River, New Mexico (Miller 2005). Sexual maturity is attained in third summer (second year of life, Sublette et al. 1990). Lifespan is up to 8-10 years (Sigler and Sigler 1996).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaS2Yes
New MexicoS2Yes
UtahS3Yes
ArizonaS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
7 - Natural system modificationsLarge (31-70%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
7.2 - Dams & water management/useLarge (31-70%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (8)
Arizona (5)
AreaForestAcres
CenterfireApache-Sitgreaves National Forests13,130
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
Grief HillPrescott National Forest12,535
Lower San FranciscoApache-Sitgreaves National Forests59,310
Santa TeresaCoronado National Forest8,929
New Mexico (2)
AreaForestAcres
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
NolanGila National Forest13,051
Utah (1)
AreaForestAcres
Pine Valley MountainsDixie National Forest57,673
References (50)
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