Catostomus macrocheilus Girard, 1856
Largescale sucker
photo by Keeley, E.R.

Family:  Catostomidae (Suckers), subfamily: Catostominae
Max. size:  61 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 15 years
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; depth range 1 - 80 m
Distribution:  North America: Arctic basin in Canada from Peace River drainage in British Columbia to Smokey River drainage in Alberta; Pacific Slope from Nass River in British Columbia to Snake River drainage (below Shoshone Falls) in Idaho and Nevada, USA, and Coquille River in Oregon, USA.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Occurs in pools and runs of medium to large rivers. Also found in lakes. Pelagic up to 1.8 cm in length (Ref. 1998). Young feed on planktonic cladocerans, copepods, ostracods, and mites; chironomid, trichopteran and ephemeropteran larvae; and bottom ooze (Ref. 1998). Adults feed on algae, diatoms, insects, amphipods, and mollusks (Ref. 1998). May feed on salmonid eggs (Ref. 1998). Preyed upon by mergansers, osprey, eagles, and bears (Ref. 1998). Edible but not highly favored (Ref. 1998).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 27 October 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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