|
|
|
California Fish Website Species
Search
|
Tahoe Sucker, Catostomus tahoensis
|
|
|
|
Adult Tahoe sucker, approximately 15 cm (6”) long. Date: 7/8/2007.
|
|
|
|
|
Appearance
and Identification:
·
May exceed 60 cm SL in lakes, rarely exceed 15 cm SL in streams
·
Subterminal mouth, lower lips incised, upper lips 2-4 rows
of papillae
·
Large head length (head length about ¼ TL) with large snout (snout =
half of head)
·
Thick caudal peduncle
·
Coloration: dark olive back and sides, white or yellow underside
o
Breeding adults: lateral band (bright red in males), breeding
tubercles on anal fin and tail
·
Fin rays: dorsal 9-11, anal 7,
pectoral 14-16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Life History:
|
|
|
|
Tahoe suckers are found in streams, lakes, and
reservoirs of the northeastern Sierras.
The suckers are found predominantly in cool streams though they are
capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 25°C. Juveniles suckers occupy slow shallow
regions while the adult suckers live inn deeper pools that provide ample
overhead cover from predators.
Suckers are omnivorous and adult fish tend to feed mostly at night
on algae, detritus and various forms of benthic invertebrates. Younger suckers feed on cladocerans and other organisms found in or around
algae and aquatic vegetation. In
lakes the Tahoe suckers grow to much greater sizes
by foraging along the bottom, sometimes as deep as 300 m. Like the stream dwelling suckers, the
lake inhabitants are omnivorous and consume various benthic organisms. In Lake Tahoe
a sucker’s diet might consist of midge larvae, annelid worms, and
amphipods. In other lakes their diet
may include algae and crustaceans. Eagle Lake, California,
is home to the fastest growing Tahoe suckers, where 10 year old fish
measure 30-35 cm SL. Tahoe suckers
spawn from March to August. Lake suckers may either breed in the lake or in a
tributary stream depending on size.
Fish less than 25 cm SL typically spawn in tributary streams while
larger fish spawn in gravely or rocky areas of a lake when the water
temperatures are 12-23°C. Stream
suckers move upstream to riffles at night when water temperatures are
within a range of 11-14°C. In these
reaches the males spread out and await the females. When a female approaches a male’s
“station”, he moves, spawns, and then repositions himself at
his station. Mean fecundity in lake
suckers is 20,555 eggs, assuming an average body length of 31 cm FL. Smaller females in streams produce fewer
eggs. Seasons of sustained high
flows seem to lead to a higher yield of production because the high water
helps maintain protective habitat for larval and postlarval
suckers.
|
|
Links to Other Research
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Here's a list of California
watersheds where Tahoe
Sucker may be found.
© 2003 - Regents of the University
of California
Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Communication Services
E-Mail Web Master
ANR
Non-Discrimination Statement
|
|