Carpsucker

At a glance

Carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 5 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.

Confirmed by 411 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Texas, Illinois, and Nebraska the top jurisdictions by observation count.

Notable details

• Has a distinctive downward-pointing, fleshy mouth perfectly adapted for bottom feeding.
• Native to large rivers and reservoirs throughout central North America, from Canada to Mexico.
• Can reach lengths of about 60 cm and weigh up to 5 kg.
• Feeds on algae, detritus, and small invertebrates suctioned from sandy and silty riverbeds.
• A native North American species, unrelated to the introduced common carp despite surface resemblance.

Where Carpsucker are seen

• Texas179 iNat obs
• Illinois29 iNat obs
• Nebraska29 iNat obs
• Iowa27 iNat obs
• Kansas23 iNat obs
• Ohio21 iNat obs

Jurisdictions with rules for Carpsucker

• IllinoisUnited States · official source
• MinnesotaUnited States · official source
• MissouriUnited States · official source

Background

The river carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio) is a freshwater fish found in the eastern United States. This species has a slightly arched back and is somewhat stout and compressed. While the fins are usually opaque, in older fish they may be dark yellow. It is distributed along the Mississippi River basin from Pennsylvania to Montana. The river carpsucker, like other suckers, is a bottom feeder and…

Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Carpsucker article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.

Other bony fish on CatchRules

• BluegillLepomis macrochirus
• Brown TroutSalmo trutta
• Brook TroutSalvelinus fontinalis
• Atlantic Sergeant MajorAbudefduf saxatilis