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

Black Redhorse Moxostoma duquesnei

Family
Catostomidae (Suckers)
Tolerance
Sensitive
Trophic Class
Benthic Invertivore
Is Exotic to Iowa?
False
Is Lithophilous Spawner?
True
Is Hybrid?
False
State Listing Status
Threatened
Assessment Program Statistics

This species was found at 40 bioassessment sites, 0 rapid fish bioassessment sites, 29 fisheries assessment sites, and 1 fisheries presence-only assessment site. In total, it was collected at 68 distinct sites, or 4.5% of the 1513 total sites monitored by the bioassessment program. It is the 62nd most commonly collected species.

The Black Redhorse was collected in 98 bioassessment sampling sessions and 143 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 6,686 individual Black Redhorse specimens, ranking it the #36 most collected fish.

Species Characteristics

A slender, fine-scaled sucker similar in appearance to the Golden Redhorse. Dark olive-green body with brassy sides and white belly. The fins, especially the dorsal and tailfin, are dark, slate-gray. The lateral line is complete with 44 to 47 small scales, which distinguishes it from the Golden Redhorse. Pharyngeal teeth are narrow and fragile. Breeding males develop small tubercules over much of the body. It's a small sucker; few weigh more than 2 pounds and 17-inches long.

Species Distribution Maps

HUC12 watersheds where this species has been found