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Blue Sucker (Cycleptus elongatus) — Catostomidae

Blue Sucker

Cycleptus elongatus
Family: Catostomidae
LC · Least Concern

The Blue Sucker (Cycleptus elongatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Catostomidae that grows up to 93 cm.

Length
93 cm
Water
Freshwater
Depth
1–3 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The blue sucker is a large sucker from North America, occurring in the Mississippi basin and Gulf coast rivers of the United States and Mexico. It grows to about 93 cm and can live some thirteen years. It has an elongate, blue-grey body with a long dorsal fin and an inferior sucker mouth with which it scrapes invertebrates and algae from the bottom. Adults occupy strong currents in deep chutes and main channels of large rivers over bedrock, sand and gravel. The fish migrates upstream to spawn and is a valued species. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blue Sucker?

The Blue Sucker has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly blue and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Blue Sucker live?

The Blue Sucker lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Blue Sucker get?

The Blue Sucker grows to a maximum of about 93 cm. On average the species is around 67 cm.

Is the Blue Sucker dangerous to humans?

No, the Blue Sucker is harmless to humans.

Is the Blue Sucker edible?

The Blue Sucker is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Blauwe zuigkarper verified
English name
Blue Sucker verified
Scientific name
Cycleptus elongatus
Family
Catostomidae
Other names
Blue sucker verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
93.0 verified
Average length (cm)
66.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Blue inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
1 sourced
Max depth (m)
3 sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
levensduur_max_jaar
13.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met worm of made in sterke rivierstroming. sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Catostomidae

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