Intoduction

The Harelip Sucker (Moxostoma lacerum) was a species of ray-finned fish in the Catostomidae

Catostomidae

Catostomidae is the sucker family of the order Cypriniformes. There are 80 species in this family of freshwater fishes. Catostomidae are found in North America, east central China, and eastern Siberia...

 family.
It was found only in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. It is extinct and hasn't been seen alive since 1893. A monitoring plan for the Harelip Sucker (Moxostoma lacerum) has been made because little is known about this species. There is little information about this fish because it is believed to be extinct. This monitoring plan will hopefully give some insight into the life and death this species. A few important things should be discussed when talking about the life of the Moxostoma lacerum. One aspect to look at is the distribution of this species; where it originated and also reasons for the fish being extirpated from these particular regions. Ecology is another aspect to look at including its predators, prey, and competitors. Life history is another important thing to look at when discussing the Moxostoma lacerum. Included in life history would be the what time of year the Harelip Sucker breeds, how often, and what micro-habitat is used for breeding. Current management is one more thing to look at while trying to shed some light on the mysterious Harelip sucker. Included in Current management is what are human impacts on this species and the habitat of this fish, and how can we lessen these impacts to make life easier for the fish. Finally, the last aspect to look at is management recommendations. In order to monitor and potentially manage this species it would be ideal to have good estimates of the abundance of species potentially across their native range. Things to be included are what kind of sampling needs to be done in order to better manage this fish, what equipment to use, and where would you sample.

Description

Two mouth characteristics separate the harelip sucker from all other catostomids: a nonprotractile upper lip and a lower lip that is divided into two distinct lobes. The head is short, accounting for only 20 to 22 percent of the standard length. The dorsal fin has 11 or 12 soft rays, and its free margin is slightly concave. The lateral line is complete and contains 42 to 46 scales. Body colors of freshly caught specimens are described by Jordan and Brayton (1877) and Jordan (1882). The back is olive to brownish, and the venter and sides are silver or white. The lower fins are slightly orange, while the remaining fins are cream to dusky. The dorsal fin is dusky and edged in black. Although of different genera, this species and the blacktail redhorse in the Mobile basin have similar body colors.

Geographic Distribution

The harelip sucker was first collected in 1859 and described in 1877. It spread from the south east United States to middle and lower Ohio basin the White drainage of the Ozarks and the Maumee system of Lake Erie. This fish holds the dubious distinction of being the fish species lost from the largest number of American states-8. The last specimen was collected in 1893. By 1970, the species was believed to be extinct. The only known collection in Alabama came from Cypress Creek, Lauderdale County, in 1889. On the slight chance of collecting this species the Alabama Department of Conservation and natural resources repeatedly sampled the lower flowing reaches of Cypress Creek in 1992 and 1993. Although they examined a total of 30 species, including six suckers, their effort were unsuccessful. The last researcher that has reported receiving a specimen claims he found retrieved it from the Elk River in 1882, probably from Tennessee. It is believed that these fish became extinct when their habitats were modified by siltation. From anatomical studies we see that these fish used sight to feed. They resided in very clear streams. It is believed that their demise began with the deforestation and land cultivation in the early eighteen hundreds.

Ecology

Harelip sucker collections came from clear, gravel-or rock-bottomed streams with moderate to swift currents (Jenkins and Burkhead, 1993). The unusual modification of the lips of the Harelip sucker suggests that it had a very specialized diet. From the stomachs of the preserved species scientists have found snails, limpets, fingernail clams, and crustaceans.

Life History

Because of the early extinction of the Harelip Sucker there are no detailed life history studies, but there is at least some biological information that was taken from the approximately thirty preserved species. Very little information exists on its precise habitat and life history, though Klippart (1878) relates that these fishes were called May suckers because they spawned in May. The only other thing known about the life history of this fish is that adult Harelip suckers reached eighteen inches in length and weighed several pounds. Despite the wide range this fish once had it became the first recently extinct fish with the last specimen being retrieced in 1893.

Current Management

There is no Current management being done for the Harelip sucker because it is federally listed as being extinct. It is believed that this was caused by human encroachment. In the eighteen hundreds and the early nineteen hundreds there were no regulations on deforestation or cultivation, and this caused the habitat of the Harelip sucker to become very silty. This hurt their feeding because they fed by sight, but it also killed the mollusks and crustaceans which was the harelip sucker's primary prey. Essentially they all starved to death.

Management Recommendations

Because this fish is extinct it may be worth while searching the streams where this fish was once found, and also some other streams in the are that aren't used much by humans. This has worked with some fish in the past. If the harelip sucker were found it would be worthwhile to manage it by removing siltation from it's habitat. Reduce runoff by planting shrubs near streams would be a great way of doing this. Also addition of gravel in the tailwaters of the streams would be a good way to improve already threatened habitats. This would increase the amount of habitat available for Harelip suckers as well as give them good places to spawn and lay eggs.