Iowa DNR
BioNet
River & Stream Biological Monitoring
Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Surveys
Physical Habitat Assessments

Blue Sucker Cycleptus elongus

Family
Catostomidae (Suckers)
Tolerance
Sensitive
Trophic Class
Benthic Invertivore
Is Exotic to Iowa?
False
Is Lithophilous Spawner?
False
Is Hybrid?
False
State Listing Status
Not Listed
Assessment Program Statistics

This species was found at 9 bioassessment sites, 0 rapid fish bioassessment sites, 3 fisheries assessment sites, and 0 fisheries presence-only assessment sites. In total, it was collected at 12 distinct sites, or 0.8% of the 1441 total sites monitored by the bioassessment program. It is the 99th most commonly collected species.

The Blue Sucker was collected in 9 bioassessment sampling sessions and 3 fisheries assessment sessions. It was present in 0 rapid bioassessment sessions and 0 presence-only sessions.

The biological assessment program has collected a total of 64 individual Blue Sucker specimens, ranking it the #101 most collected fish.

Species Characteristics

A slender, dark-colored sucker with a small head and a long, sickle-shaped dorsal fin. Blue-black or dark olive back and sides with brassy reflections and a white belly. Breeding males are very dark and have small tubercles over most of its head, body and fins. Small eyes are closer to the rear margin of the gill cover than to the tip of the snout. Its mouth is small, horizontal, and distinctly overhung by the snout. Lips are covered with numerous wart-like papillae. Lateral line is complete, with 55 to 58 scales. Body length is about four to five times greater than body depth. Fins dusky or black, dorsal fin with 28 to 33 rays.

Species Distribution Maps

HUC12 watersheds where this species has been found