Species Information

Kingdom: Animalia
  Phylum: Craniata
    Class: Actinopterygii
      Order: Cypriniformes
        Family: Catostomidae
          Genus: Cycleptus
            Species: elongatus

Blue Sucker - Cycleptus elongatus

Blue Sucker

Image courtesy of Biota Information System of New Mexico

405100

Species Extent (New Mexico)

General Description

Blue Sucker (Cycleptus elongatus) is a small (up to 9 cm in length) fish that can be found in the Mississippi River Basin, ranging westward to the lower Rio Grande and Pecos River drainages, though they are no longer common throughout their range. In New Mexico, they are now limited to the Pecos River drainage downstream of Lake McMillan, including the lower Black River. They prefer deep river channels, pools with moderate flow, and deep lakes or reservoirs. They are bottom-feeders that eat insects, crustaceans, plants, and algae.

Status

Global Rank: G3G4

State Rank: S1

State Status: E

Federal Status:

USFS Status:

BLM Status: BLM SENSITIVE

SWAP Status: SGCN

NMRP Strategy Status:

Observations in Natural Heritage New Mexico Database

Number of Subpopulations: 11

Number of Mapped Locations: 20

Number of Observations: 28

Observation date range: 08-13-1947 to 03-18-2003

External Links


Species Related Publications

Show