suckers

THE SUCKER FAMILY Catostomidae

LONGNOSE SUCKER Catostomus catostomus (Forster 1773 DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Native - State Special Concern. In Massachusetts, the longnose sucker is limited to the western third of the state. It is fairly common in clean, cold portions of the Deerfield, Housatonic and Hoosic drainages. Records from 1940 through 1956 show that it occurred historically in the Connecticut and Westfield rivers and at the mouth of the Chicopee River where specimens have not been collected in recent years. The longnose sucker is currently listed as a State Species of Special Concern due to its decline in the lower Connecticut system (Connecticut mainstem, Westfield, and lower Chicopee rivers) and due to the poor water quality in parts of the Hoosic and Housatonic drainages. The pollution and habitat alteration along these mainstems have limited surviving populations to the cleaner tributaries (D.G. Smith, U. Mass., Amherst, pers. com. 1990).: DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Native - State Special Concern. In Massachusetts, the longnose sucker is limited to the western third of the state. It is fairly common in clean, cold portions of the Deerfield, Housatonic and Hoosic drainages. Records from 1940 through 1956 show that it occurred historically in the Connecticut and Westfield rivers and at the mouth of the Chicopee River where specimens have not been collected in recent years. The longnose sucker is currently listed as a State Species of Special Concern due to its decline in the lower Connecticut system (Connecticut mainstem, Westfield, and lower Chicopee rivers) and due to the poor water quality in parts of the Hoosic and Housatonic drainages. The pollution and habitat alteration along these mainstems have limited surviving populations to the cleaner tributaries (D.G. Smith, U. Mass., Amherst, pers. com. 1990).

WHITE SUCKER Catostomus commersoni (Lacepede 1803) DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Native. In Massachusetts, white suckers are found in virtually every drainage system with the exception of the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket and several of the smaller mainland coastal streams. This species is abundant in many locations.: DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Native. In Massachusetts, white suckers are found in virtually every drainage system with the exception of the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket and several of the smaller mainland coastal streams. This species is abundant in many locations.

CREEK CHUBSUCKER Erimyzon oblongus (Mitchill, 1814) DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Native. Relatively more common east of Quabbin Reservoir but not known from Cape Cod and the Islands. Recent surveys in Massachusetts (1970-1991) have failed to find this species at a number of localities where they were collected prior to 1969. The areas where they were not collected are scattered throughout their local range and cannot be attributed to any particular environmental factors.: DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Native. Relatively more common east of Quabbin Reservoir but not known from Cape Cod and the Islands. Recent surveys in Massachusetts (1970-1991) have failed to find this species at a number of localities where they were collected prior to 1969. The areas where they were not collected are scattered throughout their local range and cannot be attributed to any particular environmental factors.

NORTHERN HOG SUCKER Hypentelium nigricans (Lesueur, 1817) DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Introduced - Non-reproducing. The only Massachusetts record is based on a 1953 Cornell University (CU 44587) collection from the outlet of the North Hadley Ponds, a tributary to the Connecticut River. This record, based on a single specimen, is probably a bait release.: DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Introduced - Non-reproducing. The only Massachusetts record is based on a 1953 Cornell University (CU 44587) collection from the outlet of the North Hadley Ponds, a tributary to the Connecticut River. This record, based on a single specimen, is probably a bait release.