Catostomus
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| Catostomus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| White sucker (C. commersonii) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Catostomidae |
| Subfamily: | Catostominae |
| Genus: | Catostomus Lesueur, 1817 |
| Type species | |
| Cyprinus catostomus J. R. Forster, 1773[1] | |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
Catostomus is a genus of fish belonging to the family Catostomidae, commonly known as suckers. This genus of fish usually lives in freshwater basins.[2] Most members of the genus are native to North America, but C. catostomus is also found in Russia.[3] A majority of species inhabit western North America, with only C. catostomus, C. commersonii, and C. utawana being found in eastern North America.[4]
The members of this genus have nearly cylindrical bodies. They have large, horizontal mouths, and their lips are very much papillose. They have complete lateral lines. They have from 54 to 124 scales, seven to 17 dorsal rays, usually seven anal rays, and 20 to 44 thin, unbranched rakers on their first gill arches. Their gas bladders have two chambers.[3]
The young of many of the species in the genus have three dark grey blotches along their sides.[3]
