Spotted sucker

Characteristics

A chunky and round-bodied, coarse-scaled fish with a dark, olive-brown back, coppery-green sides and a gray-silver belly. The scales are large with a squarish dark spot at the base, which forms several lengthwise streaks along the body. These parallel stripes set it apart from the other suckers. Its mouth is subterminal and horizontal with the rear margin of the lower lip forming a V-shape. The lateral line is incomplete with 42 to 46 scales. A short, concave-shaped dorsal fin has 11 to 12 rays. Breeding males have two dark stripes separated by a pinkish band along the mid-side and tubercules on the snout, about the head and anal fin. Adults commonly are 10- to 16-inches long and weigh from one-half to 2-pounds.

Distribution

Common in Mississippi River backwaters, sloughs and oxbows.

Foods

Cladocerans, copepods, ostricods, and plant materials that includes algae

State Record

Expert Tip

None

Details

The Spotted Sucker was reported in some of the interior rivers in the late 1890's and early 1900's, but it is probably absent in these streams now.

The Spotted Sucker lives in clear, warm water that has little current and lots of submerged aquatic plants with soft bottom that is rich in organic debris. It seems intolerant of turbid water, industrial and agricultural pollutants, and river substrate that is covered with flaky clay silts. 

Maturity is reached in the third year of life and the life span is about six years. Spawning starts in April when water temperature is 55 degrees and continues through May until the water temperature reaches about 67 degrees. Shallow riffles over rubble or gravel in moderate current are preferred for spawning. Each pregnant female is attended by several males. The semi-adhesive eggs are broadcast at random and hatch in 7 to 12 days. Growth of the Spotted Sucker in the Mississippi River ranged from 5- to 19-inches at 1 to 6 years of age. The 6 year old fish weighed 3-pounds, 13 ounces. 

Recent stream sampling information is available from Iowa DNR's biological monitoring and assessment program.