Longnose sucker
Encyclopedia
The longnose sucker, Catostomus catostomus, is a freshwater
species
of fish
inhabiting cold, clear waters in North America
from northern USA to the top of the continent. In addition, it is one of two species of sucker to inhabit Asia
, specifically the rivers of eastern Siberia
. The body of the longnose sucker is long and round with dark olive or grey sides and top and a light underside. They are typically 15 - 25 inches long and weigh between one and two lb.
The longnose sucker is a bottom-feeding fish, eating aquatic plants, algae
, and small invertebrates. They are preyed upon by larger predatory fish, such as bass
, walleye
, trout
, northern pike
, muskellunge
, and burbot
. They are fished for game and food and also used as bait to catch the larger predators.
Longnose suckers are often confused with white suckers, as they appear very similar.
Freshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
inhabiting cold, clear waters in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
from northern USA to the top of the continent. In addition, it is one of two species of sucker to inhabit Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, specifically the rivers of eastern Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. The body of the longnose sucker is long and round with dark olive or grey sides and top and a light underside. They are typically 15 - 25 inches long and weigh between one and two lb.
The longnose sucker is a bottom-feeding fish, eating aquatic plants, algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
, and small invertebrates. They are preyed upon by larger predatory fish, such as bass
Bass (fish)
Bass is a name shared by many different species of popular gamefish. The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species. All belong to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch."-Types of basses:*The temperate...
, walleye
Walleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
, trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
, northern pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
, muskellunge
Muskellunge
A muskellunge , also known as a muskelunge, muscallonge, milliganong, or maskinonge , is a large, relatively uncommon freshwater fish of North America. Muskellunge are the largest member of the pike family, Esocidae...
, and burbot
Burbot
The burbot is the only gadiform fish inhabiting freshwaters. It is also known as mariah, the lawyer, and eelpout. It is closely related to the marine common ling and the cusk...
. They are fished for game and food and also used as bait to catch the larger predators.
Longnose suckers are often confused with white suckers, as they appear very similar.