Skip to main content

Sucker ID

Ictiobus cyprinellus
Also known as: buffalo

Description: Thick-bodied fish with a large, thin-lipped, oblique mouth that opens nearly straight forward. No barbels or heavy spines. Young primarily feed on plankton and bottom-dwelling invertebrates while older fish primarily consume small crawfish, snails, clams, and immature aquatic insects, and strain the water for zooplankton. Seldom caught by anglers.

Family: Sucker
Type: Non-Game Fish
Range: Larger rivers in eastern Nebraska, particularly Central and Lower Platte drainages and adjacent sandpits.

Ictiobus niger
Also known as: buffalo

Description: Thick-bodied fish with a small, thick-lipped mouth positioned near the underside of the head. Back not as elevated as in smallmouth buffalo. No barbels or heavy spines. Bottom-feeder, consumes invertebrates (e.g. zooplankton, insects, and small clams) and attached algae. Seldom caught by anglers.

Family: Sucker
Type: Non-Game Fish
Range: Large rivers in eastern Nebraska, some adjacent sandpits, and Carter Lake in Omaha.

Illustration of black buffalo.
Black buffalo. Image copyright Joseph R. Tomelleri.

Cycleptus elongatus
Also known as: sucker

Description: A slender, dark-blue fish with a small head, deeply forked tail, and “humped” back with a long sickle-shaped dorsal fin. Bottom-feeder, diet primarily consists of immature aquatic insects. Rarely caught by anglers.

Family: Sucker
Type: Non-Game Fish
Range: Missouri River

Illustration of a blue sucker.
Blue sucker. Image copyright Joseph R. Tomelleri.

Catostomus catostomus
Also known as: sucker

Description: A slender fish having a short, triangular-shaped dorsal fin, very small scales, and a long, pointed snout with “bumpy” lips. Bottom-feeder, primarily consuming immature aquatic insects. Seldom caught by anglers.

Family: Sucker
Type: Non-Game Fish
Range: North and South Platte rivers, upper Niobrara River.

Illustration of a longnose sucker.
Longnose sucker. Image copyright Joseph R. Tomelleri.

Carpiodes cyprinus
Also known as: quillback carpsucker

Description: Silvery, thick-bodied fish with a long, sickle-shaped dorsal fin with first dorsal ray reaching back beyond middle of fin. Lower lip lacks nipple when mouth is closed. Bottom-feeder, consumes larval aquatic insects, snails, small clams, algae, and debris. Rarely caught by anglers.

Family: Sucker
Type: Non-Game Fish
Range: Statewide

Illustration of a quillback.
Quillback. Image copyright Joseph R. Tomelleri.

Carpiodes carpio
Also known as: carpsucker

Description: Silvery, thick-bodied fish with a long sickle-shaped dorsal fin – first ray not reaching back beyond middle of fin. It has a nipple-like projection at middle of lower lip when mouth is closed. Bottom-feeder – consumes attached algae and associated protozoans/crustaceans as well as immature aquatic insects/worms, and detritus. Rarely caught by anglers.

Family: Sucker
Type: Non-Game Fish
Range: Statewide

Illustration of a river carpsucker.
River carpsucker. Image copyright Joseph R. Tomelleri.

Moxostoma macrolepidotum
Also known as: redhorse

Description: A slender fish having a short, triangular-shaped dorsal fin, dark-edged scales giving the appearance of lines, and a lower lip with grooves and a nearly straight rear margin. All fins have definite red color. Bottom-feeder, primarily consuming immature aquatic insects. Rarely caught by anglers.

Family: Sucker
Type: Non-Game Fish
Range: Statewide

Illustration of a shorthead redhorse.
Shorthead redhorse. Image copyright Joseph R. Tomelleri.

Ictiobus bubalus
Also known as: buffalo

Description: Thick-bodied fish, with a small, thick-lipped mouth positioned near the underside of the head and highly arched back. No barbels or heavy spines. Bottom-feeder, primarily consumes invertebrates (e.g. small crustaceans and insects), attached algae and associated detritus (plant material). Seldom caught by anglers.

Family: Sucker
Type: Non-Game Fish
Range: Missouri River, lower Platte River and adjacent sandpits.

Illustration of a smallmouth buffalo.
Smallmouth buffalo. Image copyright Joseph R. Tomelleri.

Catostomus commersonii
Also known as: sucker

Description: A slender fish having a short, triangular-shaped dorsal fin; lips covered with small, wart-like bumps (Papillose); and variable-sized scales – largest near tail, smallest near head. Primarily feeds on organic-rich, bottom detritus and immature aquatic insects. Occasionally caught by anglers.

Family: Sucker
Type: Baitfish
Range: Statewide

Illustration of a white sucker.
White sucker. Image copyright Joseph R. Tomelleri.

References

The Fishes of Nebraska by Hrabik, et. al (2015)

The Fish Book from NEBRASKAland Magazine (1987)

Related Content

Discover other fish species and resources to angling in Nebraska.

Nebraska Fish

Nebraska Fish

Learn about species of Nebraska fish.

Read More
Fishing Guide

Fishing Guide

Nebraska Game and Parks publishes an annual fishing guide with useful rules and regulations.

Read More
Learn to Fish

Learn to Fish

Looking for fishing advice from the experts? Check out these Nebraska fishing resources.

Read More