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

Highfin Carpsucker Carpiodes velifer

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 81 bioassessment sites, 0 rapid fish bioassessment sites, 56 fisheries assessment sites, and 1 fisheries presence-only assessment site. In total, it was collected at 135 distinct sites, or 9.4% of the 1441 total sites monitored by the bioassessment program. It is the 46th most commonly collected species.

The Highfin Carpsucker was collected in 138 bioassessment sampling sessions and 91 fisheries assessment sessions. It was present in 0 rapid bioassessment sessions and 1 presence-only session.

The biological assessment program has collected a total of 2,205 individual Highfin Carpsucker specimens, ranking it the #50 most collected fish.

Species Characteristics

Its body is deep and compressed laterally, with the back highly arched and long, sickle-shaped dorsal fin with 25 to 27 soft rays. It is brown-olive, with silvery sides, whitish belly and nearly colorless fins. Tubercules are present over most of the head, body and fins of males during the breeding seasons. It's the smallest species of carpsucker, seldom exceeding 12-inches long and 1-pound.

Species Distribution Maps

HUC12 watersheds where this species has been found