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The Northern Hog Sucker

Northern Hog Sucker is a bottom-feeding freshwater fish associated with rocky flowing waters. Its feeding movements can disturb loose material while it searches the streambed for food.

Range and Identity

Hypentelium nigricans has a broad eastern and central North American distribution. It is a sucker rather than a catfish, despite its bottom-feeding habits. Body shape, mouth position and locality are useful when distinguishing it from other fishes gathered in the same riffle.

Habitat and Behavior

Clear streams with gravel and rock provide characteristic habitat, including riffles, runs and pools. The fish investigates the bottom and can displace sediment around food items. A feeding observation should retain the substrate rather than merely describe the water as fast or slow.

Food and Life History

Aquatic insect larvae and other bottom-dwelling animals are recorded prey. The compiled upper length is sixty-one centimeters total length. A questionable mass value is not carried into this account, and weight is not calculated from the fish’s length or borrowed from another sucker species.

Field Note

Watch the patch of streambed immediately in front of the mouth. Disturbed sediment can help reveal feeding activity even when individual prey are too small to see.

All Lakes With Northern Hog Sucker

Browse lakes and reservoirs with documented Northern Hog Sucker records, listed alphabetically. Records do not establish current abundance or public access. Check the evidence and managing authority for the water you choose.

Showing 1–23 of 23 lakes · Page 1 of 1

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