White Sucker
Description
To 24". Elongate, cylindrical, caudal peduncle moderately slender; back dusky-olive, sides greenish-yellow with brassy luster; young mottled on sides. Head flattened above; snout blunt; mouth large, ventral; lips thick with many papillae. Fins plain; pelvic axiliary scale present; 10-13 dorsal fin rays; 6-8 anal fin rays. Lateral line complete, 55-74 scales; 8-10 scale rows above lateral line; anterior scales crowded.
Habitat
Cool, clear streams and lakes or over sand, gravel. or rocks.
Similar Species
Longnose Sucker has long, fleshy snout extending beyond mouth; 91-120 lateral line scales; occurs in similar habitat throughout Canada, N. United States to central West Virginia, N. Illinois, central Colorado, S. Idaho, Alaska, and Washington.
Comments
The White Sucker is the most common species of this genus in North America . Anglers do not fish for it, but some are taken during spawning runs in large lift nets and in commercial fisheries. The White Sucker is quite tolerant of a great vari
Other
Though the meat is firm and good tasting, white sucker seldom appears on a restaurant menu -- perhaps because the name lacks market appeal. As a result, white sucker is processed in a variety of ways for the market, often under the name "mullet." They are good either fresh or smoked and can be prepared in fish sticks or soups and chowders.