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Alabama hog sucker (Hypentelium etowanum) — Catostomidae

Alabama hog sucker

Hypentelium etowanum
Family: Catostomidae
LC · Least Concern

The Alabama hog sucker (Hypentelium etowanum) is a freshwater fish of the family Catostomidae that grows up to 23 cm.

Length
23 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The Alabama hog sucker is a sucker from fresh water of the southeastern United States, mainly in the Mobile River basin. The species grows to about 23 cm and has an elongate body with a broad, angular head and a fleshy, inferior sucking mouth. As a bottom-dweller it scrapes algae, invertebrates and detritus from the bottom of clear, rocky streams; it often shifts stones in search of food. The fish is harmless to humans. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Alabama hog sucker?

The Alabama hog sucker has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Alabama hog sucker live?

The Alabama hog sucker lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Alabama hog sucker get?

The Alabama hog sucker grows to a maximum of about 23 cm.

Is the Alabama hog sucker dangerous to humans?

No, the Alabama hog sucker is harmless to humans.

Is the Alabama hog sucker edible?

The Alabama hog sucker is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Alabama-zwijnzuigkarper verified
English name
Alabama hog sucker verified
Scientific name
Hypentelium etowanum
Family
Catostomidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
23.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
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
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Hypentelium

More from the family Catostomidae

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