Catostomidae
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
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Catostomidae is the sucker fish family of the Cypriniformes order.
There are 61 species in this family of freshwater fishes and they are found in North America, east central China, and eastern Siberia. Their mouth is located on the underside of the head, with lips that are fleshy and thick which enable the fish to attach to rocks in quicker flowing waters. Most species are less than two feet (60 cm) in length, with the largest species reaching 40 inches (1 m) in size. They are not usually fished recreationally, providing little sport for the fisherman and not highly prized in North America for their flesh.
They are most often found in rivers, but can be found in any freshwater environment. Their food ranges from detritus and bottom dwelling organisms such as crustaceans and worms, to insects on the surface of the water and small fishes for the larger suckers.
Selected species:
