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Structured Inquiry Search — preview

• Home
• Kingdom Animalia
• Phylum Chordata
• Subphylum Vertebrata
• Superclass Gnathostomata
• Class Actinopterygii
• Order Cypriniformes
• Family Catostomidae

• Information
• Pictures
• Classification

By Tanya Dewey

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Cypriniformes

Family: Catostomidae

Members of this Family

The 68 species of suckers are found in freshwater rivers in North America, China, and northeastern Siberia. They can grow up to 1 meter long, but are usually less than 60 centimeters long. They have thick, fleshy lips that help them to attach themselves to rocks in the bottoms of fast-flowing rivers. They eat bottom-dwelling animals like worms, crustaceans, insects, and small fishes.

For More Information

Find Catostomidae information at

• Encyclopedia of Life

Contributors

Tanya Dewey (author), Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.

To cite this page: Dewey, T. . "Catostomidae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed February 13, 2012 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Catostomidae.html

Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.

Sponsored in part by the Interagency Education Research Initiative,
the Homeland Foundation and the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants DUE-0633095 and DRL-0628151.
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