Chasmistes liorus
Jordan, 1878
June Sucker
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
Critically endangeredIUCN
Very high - highThreat Impact
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100138
Element CodeAFCJC03030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNCritically endangered
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderCypriniformes
FamilyCatostomidae
GenusChasmistes
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
Original population in Utah Lake may be extinct. When numbers were low, C. liorus hybridized with Catostomus ardens, which apparently led to introgression of new characters into the population; now this form (described as a new subspecies, C. l. mictus), is abundant, according to Miller and Smith (1981). Ongoing research may reveal if any unhybridized C. liorus remain.
Catostomus fecundus is an invalid taxon because it was based on hybrids between C. ardens and C. liorus.
Chasmistes and Deltistes are closely related to the older, more diverse, widespread genus Catostomus; Chasmistes species are distinctive in having branched gill rakers and a terminal mouth (Scoppettone and Vinyard 1991).
Harris and Mayden (2001) used molecular data to examine phylogenetic relationships of major clades of Catostomidae. In all trees, Scartomyzon was paraphyletic and embedded in Moxostoma, and Catostomus was never recovered as monophyletic (Xyrauchen was embedded within Catostomus). They concluded that the phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic composition of taxa presently included in Moxostoma and Scartomyzon are in need of further study, as are the relationships and composition of the genera Catostomus, Chasmistes, Deltistes , and Xyrauchen, and the phylogenetic affinites of Erimyzon and Minytrema.
See Smith (1992) for a study of the phylogeny and biogeography of the Catostomidae.
Catostomus fecundus is an invalid taxon because it was based on hybrids between C. ardens and C. liorus.
Chasmistes and Deltistes are closely related to the older, more diverse, widespread genus Catostomus; Chasmistes species are distinctive in having branched gill rakers and a terminal mouth (Scoppettone and Vinyard 1991).
Harris and Mayden (2001) used molecular data to examine phylogenetic relationships of major clades of Catostomidae. In all trees, Scartomyzon was paraphyletic and embedded in Moxostoma, and Catostomus was never recovered as monophyletic (Xyrauchen was embedded within Catostomus). They concluded that the phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic composition of taxa presently included in Moxostoma and Scartomyzon are in need of further study, as are the relationships and composition of the genera Catostomus, Chasmistes, Deltistes , and Xyrauchen, and the phylogenetic affinites of Erimyzon and Minytrema.
See Smith (1992) for a study of the phylogeny and biogeography of the Catostomidae.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2013-03-26
Change Date2013-03-26
Edition Date2011-11-02
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactVery high - high
Range Extent250-1000 square km (about 100-400 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Restricted to Utah Lake and the Provo River, plus stocked refuge populations elsewhere in Utah; habitat alteration and introduced fishes are major problems, resulting in little or no recruitment; wild adult population includes only a few hundred individuals; existing population may consist of hybrids between C. liorus and C. ardens, or perhaps some pure C. liorus still remain; population is being maintained through releases of captive-reared individuals.
Range Extent Comments
Native range includes Utah Lake (380 square kilometers) and the adjacent Provo River, Utah; flows in the Provo River are controlled by Deer Creek Reservoir and by agricultural diversions, which restrict spawning to 6.1 kilometers of the lowermost river (Scoppettone and Vinyard 1991). Refuge populations of the June sucker have been established in protected locations throughout Utah.
One reported specimen, collected from the Snake River below Jackson Lake Dam, Wyoming, represents another species, C. muriei, which is now presumably extinct (Miller and Smith 1981).
One reported specimen, collected from the Snake River below Jackson Lake Dam, Wyoming, represents another species, C. muriei, which is now presumably extinct (Miller and Smith 1981).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by one occurrence (subpopulation).
Threat Impact Comments
Decline of original population was due to pollution, drought, dewatering of habitat resulting from agricultural and domestic use of the Provo River, competition with and predation by introduced fishes, and damming of tributary streams (Miller and Smith 1981, Miller et al. 1989). Utah Lake now is operated as a reservoir, with extensively fluctuating water levels; it is increasingly euthrophic and saline, and introduced fishes (especially carp, also white bass, walleye, and black bullhead) have virtually replaced the native fauna (see Scoppettone and Vinyard 1991). These impacts have resulted in essentially no population recruitment (Belk 1998). Modde and Muirhead (1994) observed successful production of larvae in the late 1980s and concluded that recruitment failure is not due to reproductive failure.
Hybridization with Chasmistes ardens may have eliminated C. liorus as a distinctive species, but further study is needed.
Hybridization with Chasmistes ardens may have eliminated C. liorus as a distinctive species, but further study is needed.
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
This sucker inhabits Utah Lake and tributaries, in Utah. Probably it formerly occurred throughout the lake, but now it may occur mainly in shallower, more protected areas (Sigler and Sigler 1987). Utah Lake is shallow (maximum depth 4.3 meters, average depth 2.7 meters), turbid, and slightly saline (Matthews and Moseley 1990).
Spawning occurs in large tributary streams (lower portion of Provo River and, at least formerly, lower Spanish Fork River), in shallower riffles over coarse gravel and cobble; water depth at spawning sites is 30-76 centimeters, water velocity 6-137 centimeters/second. Newly hatched larvae remain on the bottom for several days, move downstream immediately after swim-up (Scoppettone and Vinyard 1991).
Spawning occurs in large tributary streams (lower portion of Provo River and, at least formerly, lower Spanish Fork River), in shallower riffles over coarse gravel and cobble; water depth at spawning sites is 30-76 centimeters, water velocity 6-137 centimeters/second. Newly hatched larvae remain on the bottom for several days, move downstream immediately after swim-up (Scoppettone and Vinyard 1991).
Reproduction
Spawns mainly in June, at water temperatures of 12-13 C; activity greatest at midday (1100-1400 h). Eggs hatch in 4 days at about 21 C. Larvae enter the water column about 10 days after hatching (Sigler and Sigler 1987). In 1987-1988, spawned over a two-week period in early June; emergent larvae emigrated from the river over a two- to three-week period; peak emergence of larvae occurred in late June (Modde and Muirhead 1994). Otolith analysis suggests that sexual maturity may be attained as early as age 5 but at least by age 10 (Belk 1998). Life span may exceed forty years (Scoppettone and Vinyard 1991).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | S2 | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 - Natural system modifications | Pervasive - restricted | Extreme - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 7.2 - Dams & water management/use | Pervasive - restricted | Extreme - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Pervasive (71-100%) | Extreme - serious | High (continuing) |
| 8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Pervasive (71-100%) | Extreme - serious | High (continuing) |
| 8.2 - Problematic native species/diseases | Pervasive (71-100%) | Extreme - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 9 - Pollution | Pervasive - restricted | Extreme - moderate | Unknown |
| 9.1 - Domestic & urban waste water | Pervasive - restricted | Extreme - moderate | Unknown |
| 9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluents | Pervasive - restricted | Extreme - moderate | Unknown |
| 11 - Climate change & severe weather | Pervasive (71-100%) | Extreme - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 11.2 - Droughts | Pervasive (71-100%) | Extreme - moderate | High (continuing) |
Roadless Areas (1)
South Dakota (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Creek | Buffalo Gap National Grassland | 24,666 |
References (25)
- Baxter, G. T., and J. R. Simon. 1970. Wyoming fishes. Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 168 pp.
- Belk, M. C. 1998. Age and growth of June sucker (<i>Chasmistes liorus</i>) from otoliths. Great Basin Naturalist 58(4):390-392.
- Harris, P. M., and R. L. Mayden. 2001. Phylogenetic relationships of major clades of Catostomidae (Teleostei: Cypriniformes) as inferred from mitchondrial SSU and LSU rDNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 20:225-237.
- Holden, Paul B. (Bio/West, Utah). 1997. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Ruth Mathews, TNC. April 1997.
- Jelks, H. L., S. J. Walsh, N. M. Burkhead, S. Contreras-Balderas, E. Díaz-Pardo, D. A. Hendrickson, J. Lyons, N. E. Mandrak, F. McCormick, J. S. Nelson, S. P. Platania, B. A. Porter, C. B. Renaud, J. Jacobo Schmitter-Soto, E. B. Taylor, and M.L. Warren, Jr. 2008. Conservation status of imperiled North American freshwater and diadromous fishes. Fisheries 33(8):372-407.
- Keleher, C. J., L.D. Lentsch, and C.W. Thompson. 1998. Evaluation of flow requirements for June sucker (<i>Chasmistes liorus</i>) in the Provo River: An empirical approach. Pub. No. 99-06. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Lee, D. S., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, North Carolina. i-x + 854 pp.
- Matthews, J.R. and C.J. Moseley (eds.). 1990. The Official World Wildlife Fund Guide to Endangered Species of North America. Volume 1. Plants, Mammals. xxiii + pp 1-560 + 33 pp. appendix + 6 pp. glossary + 16 pp. index. Volume 2. Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Fishes, Mussels, Crustaceans, Snails, Insects, and Arachnids. xiii + pp. 561-1180. Beacham Publications, Inc., Washington, D.C.
- Miller, R. R., and G. R. Smith. 1981. Distribution and evolution of <i>Chasmistes</i> (Pisces: Catostomidae) in western North America. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Occasional Papers No. 696: 1-46.
- Miller, R. R., J. D. Williams, and J. E. Williams. 1989. Extinctions of North American fishes during the past century. Fisheries 14(6):22-38.
- Modde, T., and N. Muirhead. 1994. Spawning chronology and larval emergence of June sucker (<i>Chasmistes liorus</i>). Great Basin Naturalist 54(4):366-370.
- Nelson, J. S., E. J. Crossman, H. Espinosa-Perez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, and J. D. Williams. 2004. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 29, Bethesda, Maryland. 386 pp.
- Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes: North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. 432 pp.
- Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 2011. Peterson field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston. xix + 663 pp.
- Page, L. M., H. Espinosa-Pérez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, R. L. Mayden, and J. S. Nelson. 2013. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Seventh edition. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 34, Bethesda, Maryland.
- Page, L. M., K. E. Bemis, T. E. Dowling, H.S. Espinosa-Pérez, L.T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, K. E. Hartel, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, M. A. Neigbors, J. J. Schmitter-Soto, and H. J. Walker, Jr. 2023. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Eighth edition. American Fisheries Society (AFS), Special Publication 37, Bethesda, Maryland, 439 pp.
- 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.
- Scoppettone, G. G., and G. Vinyard. 1991. Life history and management of four endangered lacustrine suckers. Pages 359-377 in W. L. Minckley and J. E. Deacon (editors). Battle Against Extinction: Native Fish Management in the American West. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, Arizona.
- Smith, G. R. 1992. Phylogeny and biogeography of the Catostomidae, freshwater fishes of North America and Asia. Pages 778-826 in R.L. Mayden, editor. Systematics, historical ecology, and North American freshwater fishes. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. xxvi + 969 pp.
- State Natural Heritage Data Centers. 1996b. Aggregated element occurrence data from all U.S. state natural heritage programs, including the Tennessee Valley Authority, Navajo Nation and the District of Columbia: Export of freshwater fish and mussel records west of the Mississippi River in 1997. Science Division, The Nature Conservancy.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1984. Endangered classification proposed for four fishes in Southeast and Utah. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Program, Endangered Species Technical Bulletin 9(8):1-11.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1990. Endangered and threatened species recovery program: report to Congress. 406 pp.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1999. June sucker (<i>Chasmistes liorus</i>) recovery plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver, Colorado. 61 pp.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2021.Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reclassification of the Endangered June Sucker to Threatened With a Section 4(d) Rule; Final rule. Federal Register 86(1):192-212.
- Williams, J.E, J.E. Johnson, D.A. Hendrickson, S. Contreras-Balderas, J.D. Williams, M. Navarro-Mendoza, D.E. McAllister, and J.E. Deacon. 1989b. Fishes of North America endangered, threatened or of special concern: 1989. Fisheries 14(6):2-20.