Spotted sucker | |
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Conservation status | |
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Subkingdom: | Eumetazoa |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
Infraphylum: | Gnathostomata |
Superclass: | Osteichthyes |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Subclass: | Neopterygii |
Infraclass: | Teleostei |
Superorder: | Ostariophysi |
Order: | Cypriniformes |
Suborder: | Cobitoidea |
Family: | Catostomidae |
Genus: | Minytrema D. S. Jordan, 1878 |
Species: | M. melanops |
Binomial name | |
Minytrema melanops (Rafinesque, 1820) |
The spotted sucker (Minytrema melanops) is a fish that is frequently encountered but rarely found in large numbers. The fish gets its name from 8–12 parallel rows of dark spots at the scale bases on the back and sides.
The fish has thin lips and a horizontal mouth. These fish can reach a length of about 19 inches (480 mm).[1]
Spotted suckers are widely found throughout the central, and southeastern United States and reach southern Canada.[2]
The spotted sucker inhabits deep pools of small to medium rivers over clay, sand or gravel. They are occasionally found in creeks and large rivers.[3]