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Catostomus commersonii

(Lacepède, 1803)

White Sucker

G5Secure Found in 21 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.833297
Element CodeAFCJC02060
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderCypriniformes
FamilyCatostomidae
GenusCatostomus
Synonyms
Catostomus commersoni(Lacepède, 1803)
Other Common Names
Meunier noir (FR)
Concept Reference
Morse, R. S., and R. A. Daniels. 2009. A redescription of Catostomus utawana (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae). Copeia 2009:214-220.
Taxonomic Comments
Catostomus utawana of the Adirondack region of New York formerly was included in Catostomus commersonii (see Morse and Daniels 2009).

See Smith (1992) for a study of the phylogeny and biogeography of the Catostomidae.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2015-08-17
Change Date1996-09-18
Edition Date2011-10-26
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Range Extent Comments
Large range includes Atlantic, Arctic, Great Lakes, and Mississippi River basins from Labrador to the Mackenzie River, south to the Tennessee River drainage, northern Alabama, and the Arkansas River drainage, New Mexico; south on the Atlantic Slope to the extreme upper Savannah River drainage, Georgia; South Carolina; upper Rio Grande drainage, New Mexico; Skeena and Fraser river drainages (Pacific Slope), British Columbia; introduced in the Colorado River drainage, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah (Page and Burr 2011).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a very large number of occurrences (subpopulations).
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats are known.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Almost cylindrical body; rounded snout barely projects beyond upper lip when viewed from below; large horizontal mouth; thick lips (lower lip about twice as thick as upper lip); lower lip with deep notch in middle; 0-3 rows of papillae at middle of lower lip, 2-6 rows of papillae on upper lip; fewer than 75 scales in lateral series; brownish to blackish back becomes gold in breeding male, which also often has a scarlet stripe on each side. Juveniles often have three or more dark blotches on their sides (as do some adults). Total length up to 64 cm.

See Snyder and Muth (1990) for a guide to the identification of larvae and early juveniles.

Habitat

White suckers occur in a wide variety of lake and stream habitats. Some migrate dozens of kilometers between nonspawning habitats (lakes or streams) and spawning areas in stream or lake tributaries. Spawning occurs usually in swift water or rapids, often in small, clear, cool creeks and small to medium rivers in water less than 30 cm deep. Sometimes spawning occurs on lake shoals, beaches, or river mouths (areas with wave action). Eggs sink and usually stick to and become lodged in gravel.

Reproduction

Spawning occurs usually in spring (or early summer in the far north). Eggs sink and usually stick to and become lodged in gravel. Eggs hatch in 5-15 days, depending on temperature. Individuals become sexually mature in 3-8 years, depending on locality; males mature at a younger age than do females (Becker 1983, Scott and Crossman 1973). Mature individuals may not spawn every year (Trippel and Harvey, 1989, Can. J. Zool. 67:2180-2188).
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
DelawareS5Yes
MinnesotaSNRYes
IllinoisS5Yes
MissouriSNRYes
KansasS5Yes
ColoradoS5Yes
ArkansasS3Yes
South DakotaS5Yes
Rhode IslandS5Yes
ConnecticutS5Yes
MississippiSXYes
New MexicoS5Yes
North DakotaSNRYes
District of ColumbiaS4Yes
GeorgiaS3Yes
North CarolinaS5Yes
New HampshireS5Yes
OhioS5Yes
IowaS5Yes
Navajo NationSNANo
New JerseyS5Yes
VermontS5Yes
VirginiaS5Yes
MarylandS5Yes
NebraskaS4Yes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
UtahSNANo
WisconsinS5Yes
WyomingS5Yes
AlabamaS4Yes
OklahomaS3Yes
MontanaS4Yes
New YorkS5Yes
MassachusettsS5Yes
West VirginiaS5Yes
IndianaS5Yes
MaineS5Yes
MichiganS5Yes
KentuckyS4Yes
South CarolinaS5Yes
TennesseeS5Yes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
SaskatchewanS4Yes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
LabradorS5Yes
Northwest TerritoriesS4Yes
Nova ScotiaS5Yes
OntarioS5Yes
New BrunswickS5Yes
AlbertaS5Yes
QuebecS5Yes
ManitobaS5Yes
Yukon TerritoryS2Yes
NunavutS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
No known threats———

—

Roadless Areas (21)
Colorado (1)
AreaForestAcres
Pole Mountain / Finger MesaRio Grande NF43,863
New Hampshire (2)
AreaForestAcres
Carr MountainWhite Mountain National Forest17,110
Sandwich RangeWhite Mountain National Forest16,797
New Mexico (4)
AreaForestAcres
Candian RiverCibola National Forest7,149
Capitan MountainsLincoln National Forest14,069
Chama WS RiverSanta Fe National Forest4,168
Virgin CanyonSanta Fe National Forest6,068
North Carolina (4)
AreaForestAcres
Chunky Gal (addition)Nantahala National Forest3,336
Dobson KnobPisgah National Forest6,111
Mackey MountainPisgah National Forest5,934
Woods MountainPisgah National Forest9,602
Pennsylvania (2)
AreaForestAcres
CornplanterAllegheny National Forest2,929
Tracy RidgeAllegheny National Forest9,034
South Dakota (2)
AreaForestAcres
Cheyenne RiverBuffalo Gap National Grassland7,572
Red ShirtBuffalo Gap National Grassland17,007
Vermont (1)
AreaForestAcres
Woodford 09086Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests2,456
Virginia (5)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekJefferson National Forest18,274
Brush Mountain EastJefferson National Forest4,916
Dolly AnnGeorge Washington National Forest7,855
JerkemtightGeorge Washington National Forest16,687
Shawvers Run AdditionJefferson National Forest1,927
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