Lake Chubsucker
FISH PROFILE
COMMON NAME
Lake Chubsucker
Scientific name
Erimyzon sucetta
FAMILY
Catostomidae family
LENGTH
10-16 inches
DIET
Insect larvae, fish eggs, algae, detritus, and plant matter
FISH PROFILE
COMMON NAME
Lake Chubsucker
Scientific name
Erimyzon sucetta
FAMILY
Catostomidae family
LENGTH
10-16 inches
DIET
Insect larvae, fish eggs, algae, detritus, and plant matter
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Lake chubsuckers on average measure 8-10 inches but can be up to 16” long. They have a characteristic downward pointed mouth and a robust body and rounded dorsal fin. Many will have a dusky stripe along the body.
RANGE, HABITAT, BEHAVIOR, AND dIET
Lake chubsuckers can be found throughout the Great lakes and Mississippi River Basin from Ontario to the southeastern US, including all of Florida. It prefers slow moving or still waters with abundant aquatic vegetation. It feeds mostly on crustaceans and aquatic insects found along the substrate.
FUN FACTS
Occasionally lake chubsuckers lay their eggs in bass nests so that the male bass will guard them! Lake chubsuckers were identified as one of the top three fish species eaten by bald eagles in North Central Florida and are also an important diet item for largemouth bass. Recently, siltation and coal ash spills have threatened the species and its habitat, placing it on the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) and the Species at Risk Act (SARA) lists.