Northern Hog Sucker Hypentelium nigricans
This species was found at 242 bioassessment sites, 10 rapid fish bioassessment sites, 94 fisheries assessment sites, and 7 fisheries presence-only assessment sites. In total, it was collected at 344 distinct sites, or 23.9% of the 1442 total sites monitored by the bioassessment program. It is the 23rd most commonly collected species.
The Northern Hog Sucker was collected in 572 bioassessment sampling sessions and 285 fisheries assessment sessions. It was present in 10 rapid bioassessment sessions and 7 presence-only sessions.
The biological assessment program has collected a total of 27,436 individual Northern Hog Sucker specimens, ranking it the #18 most collected fish.
The hog sucker is not physically appealing, and its body conformation is disproportionately shaped. Its body is mottled brownish with a large, bony head, squarish in cross-section, with the interspace between the eyes broad and curved inward. Its eyes are closer to the gill cover rear margin than to the snout. The tapered body and tail are very slender. The dorsal fin is short with 10 to 11 rays. Lips are thick and covered with wart-like bumps. The air bladder has two chambers. Adults are small, usually 8-15 inches long, and weigh from one-third to 1 1/2 pounds.
HUC12 watersheds where this species has been found