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Photo by Unknown Photographer
Photo Courtesy of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources; Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Bluehead Sucker
Catostomus discobolus
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G4G5
State (S-rank): S3
External links
Species range
The Bluehead Sucker occurs in the Colorado River drainage, in Utah that includes the Green, Colorado, and San Juan rivers and most perrenial tributaries. It was previously believed that they also occurred in the Bonneville Basin and the Upper Snake River Basin. Those populations have been reclassified as Green Sucker.
Migration
The bluehead sucker migrate seasonaly, primarily migrating in the spring and summer for spawning. The migration involves adults moving from mainstem rivers into smaller, higher-gradient tributary streams, often cued by flows and water temperature.
Habitat
Found in streams and rivers with clean, flowing water with hard substrates like rocks, gravel, and bedrock.
Lee et al. (1980) stated: "Occupies wide variety of fluvial habitats, ranging from cold, clear trout streams (less than 20oC) to warm, very turbid streams. Prefers riffles over rocky substrate."
Food habits
The Bluehead Sucker feeds on periphyton (a mixture of microbiological life and algae found on hard surfaces like rocks) by using their specially developed mouth parts that contain a hard cartilaginous ridge to allow them to scrape at the surface of rocks.
Reproductive characteristics
Spawning occurs in spring and early summer in shallow areas with moderate current and a gravel substrate.
Threats or limiting factors
The greatest threats to the Bluehead Sucker involve modifications to their habitats such as diversions and dams as well as river channel modification. Additionally, invasive species provide challenges through both competition and predation.
