White sucker (Catostomus commersonii) is a freshwater, brackish species recorded in the United States.
Scientific name: Catostomus commersonii · Water: Freshwater, Brackish
Size: up to 65 cm
The white sucker is a demersal catostomid that inhabits a wide range of habitats, from rocky pools and riffles of headwaters to large lakes, and it usually occurs in small, clear, cool creeks and small to medium rivers; it may be found at depths greater than 45 m, and it also enters brackish water. It moves to shallower water near sunrise and sunset to feed; its fry feed on plankton and other small invertebrates, and bottom feeding begins at a length of 1.6 to 1.8 cm. It is preyed upon by birds, fishes, lampreys and mammals, and its flesh is white, flaky and sweet. Its range is most of Canada to the Atlantic coast and south through North Carolina to New Mexico, becoming less common in the southern High Plains. Maximum length is about 65 cm total length, commonly about 40.7 cm, and it can live 12 years. It is a minor commercial species, a commercial aquaculture species, a gamefish and an occasional bait species. Fishing vulnerability is high at 57 of 100 and resilience low. IUCN lists it as least concern.
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