What are Sucker Fish?
Types There are some 68 species of suckers in North American waters. The most prominent of these are the white sucker, the northern hog sucker, and the redhorse family of suckers. These fish get their name because of their fleshy mouth, with lips that are directed down. They suck up food from the bottom of the lakes and rivers they inhabit. Geography The white sucker ranges from northern Canada to Florida and westward to the Plains States. The northern hog sucker shares a similar range, found in lakes, rivers, and streams from Canada to Mexico and as far west as the Mississippi River system. The redhorse sucker family is found mainly in the southeastern section of the country, the Great Lakes, and the Mississippi basin. Size Suckers can grow quite large. The white sucker can achieve a length of two feet and weigh five pounds while the northern hog sucker can make it to 22 inches and tip the scales at four pounds. The redhorse suckers are the biggest of the lot, with some growing as lon
