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

River Carpsucker Carpiodes carpio

Family
Catostomidae (Suckers)
Tolerance
Intermediate
Trophic Class
Omnivore
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 201 bioassessment sites, 0 rapid fish bioassessment sites, 58 fisheries assessment sites, and 4 fisheries presence-only assessment sites. In total, it was collected at 262 distinct sites, or 17.3% of the 1513 total sites monitored by the bioassessment program. It is the 32nd most commonly collected species.

The River Carpsucker was collected in 310 bioassessment sampling sessions and 69 fisheries assessment sessions. It was present in 0 rapid bioassessment sessions and 4 presence-only sessions.

The biological assessment program has collected a total of 5,059 individual River Carpsucker specimens, ranking it the #44 most collected fish.

Species Characteristics

Stout body with a moderately compressed and slightly arched back. It has a nipple-like projection at the middle of its lower lip. The back is brown-olive with silvery sides fading to a whitish belly. The fins are opaque, except in older fish. Breeding males develop tiny tubercules on the body. River Carpsucker is the largest of the carpsuckers with adults commonly 12- to 18-inches long and weigh 1- to 3-pounds. Individual fish weighing over 10-pounds have been reported.

Species Distribution Maps

HUC12 watersheds where this species has been found