Sonora Sucker

DESCRIPTION:
The body of a Sonora Sucker is thick and spindle-shaped with a stubby caudal peduncle. The head and snout are large, rounded dorsally and flattened ventrally. The lower lip is about 3 times as long as the upper, and formed of two, moderately fleshy lobes. The dorsal fin usually has 11 (rarely 12) rays, and the lateral line usually has fewer than 60 (54-67) relatively large scales, which are somewhat crowded anteriorly. The body and head are distinctly bi-colored. The dorsal side is brownish and has darker studded lines as opposed to the ventral side which typically is yellowish or cream color.

DISTRIBUTION & STATUS:
Widespread and generally common in central, northern, and western parts of its range, but becoming more localized and increasingly rare in the south (Mexico lists this species as endangered). Sonora Suckers were historically found in the upper Gila River and Bill Williams River systems of Arizona, New Mexico, and Sonora. In Arizona they are found in most of their historic ranges, including the mainstem and tributaries of the Bill Williams, Gila, Salt, San Francisco, San Pedro, Santa Cruz, and Verde rivers. Although the species is common in many tributary streams, it has disappeared from most of the mainstream rivers it formally inhabited and few are ever encountered in reservoirs.

HABITAT:
Found in a variety of stream, varying from colder trout streams to warm river waters. Adults and bigger juveniles are typically in bigger pools or deeper runs preferring rocky, relatively deep, and quiet waters. While fry and smaller juveniles are in slower water or side channels for feeding and shelter.

FOOD HABITS:
Opportunistic species that feeds on tiny crustaceans, protozoans, macroinvertebrates, algae, and detritus.

REPRODUCTION:
Spawning peak typically occurs in spring however, due to Arizona temperatures, they could lay as early as late winter and as late as early summer. Sonora Suckers prefer gravel bars or gravel-bottomed riffles for group spawning ( 1 female, 2+ males) with clean oxygen-rich water for egg development. The eggs are externally fertilized and settle into substrate during development ranging from a few days to a week before hatching into free-swimming larvae.