Sucker Family  – Casostomidae

There are currently EIGHT members of the Sucker or Casostomidae Family, all from Mexico’s freshwater system,  presented in this website:

The Castostomidae or Sucker Family is large with 79 known species that have been placed in 17 genera of fishes of which 3 genera are extinct. They represent the third largest freshwater clade (after Darters of the Etheostomatinae Family and Minnows of the Cyprinidae Family) being 8% of the continental ichthyofauna.  The taxonomy, relationships, and geographic distributions of the Castostomidae Family have been studied extensively for the last one hundred fifty years.

The Suckers are found predominantly in freshwater rivers and in brackish waters. Of the 79 fish 78 are exclusive native residents of North America. The majority are less than 60 cm (2 feet 0 inches) in length but a few can surpass 1.0 m (3 feet 3 inches). Their head has a subterminal mouth with thick fleshy lips and a unique long pharyngeal bone in the throat containing at least 16 teeth. They consume detritus and bottom-dwelling organisms (crustaceans and worms), crayfish, fishes, surface insects and terrestrial vertebrates. They can reach up to 112 years in age, making them the oldest known freshwater teleost.

They are caught by both angling and harpooning. Their populations have been adversely affected by pollution and habitat destruction. A few are actively pursued by recreational anglers. Many consider them to be a trash fish. They are a common and popular food fish especially in the southeast United States. They are currently being raised in China by aquaculture. They date to the Middle Eocene, 47,800,00 to 38,000,000 years ago, and they have been an important food fish for native Americans.

About 35% of the taxa are endangered, threatened or of conservation concern.