NPSpecies

The data source confirming park status is over 10 years old. The park status value was chosen due to the lack of current evidence for the occurrence of this species in the park.; Data Source: Britt, 1993

Data Source: Britt, 1993

Data Source: Britt, 1993

Park Species Detail: Britt, 1993: Catostomus commersoni, white sucker (resident, native). The distribution of the white sucker is from the Arctic Circle in the MacKenzie River drainage south to New Mexico and Georgia. They are not found in the Pacific Slope drainages. White suckers tend to live in schools near the bottom. Immediately after hatching, and for 10-11 days, the young fish have terminal mouths and feed on bloodworms, small crustaceans, protozoa, and microscopic life near the surface. As they continue to grow they develop subterminal, horizontal mouths and begin to feed on insects on the bottom. Adults range from 305 to 508 mm total length and have a maximum total length of about 635 mm. Their life span is normally no more than 12 years. Females grow faster, become larger, and live longer than males. They tend to mature in 5 to 8 years. White sucker migrate into gravel streams or lake margins to spawn in the spring. The males stay at the spawning site and the females enter only to ..spawn. Spawning usually occurs at dusk and dawn. Fecundity varies from 36,000 to 140,000 eggs which are scattered and buried in the silt and gravel where they hatch in about 18-20 days at approximately 50°F. White sucker were collected during this study and are fairly common in the lower portions of Rock Creek., Park Species Data Source: Britt et al 1993