Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Longnose Sucker (Catostomus catostomus) - Native?

Adult longnose sucker.

An adult longnose sucker. Robert J. Eakins photo.

Identification. Similar to the white sucker. Streamlined, cylindrical body. Lower lip has numerous small bumps (papillae). Snout extends well ahead of mouth. Posterior end of mouth extends back beyond nostrils. Complete lateral line. Scales oval-shaped and small (lateral line scales greater than 85). Dorsal rays 10. Adults may be reddish brown, dark green or nearly black on the back, fading to white on the belly. Young usually have small dark spots. Males develop red lateral stripe during spawning.

Size. Commonly 8 to 15 inches elsewhere in their range. State survey max. size 9 inches. Max. reported size 25 inches.

Distribution. Widespread over northern North America. Have been found in only one Connecticut stream, the Konkapot River. They are more common in neighboring Western Massachusetts.

Longnose sucker distribution map.

All maps created in 2009. See CT DEEP Fish Community Data for updated distributions.

Habits. Prefer clean, cold streams with gravel bottoms.

Comments. Recent attempts to find longnose suckers in Connecticut have failed. It is uncertain whether our state ever had any permanent native populations or whether they are merely occasional migrants from Massachusetts. They are listed as a Species of Special Concern in Connecticut.

 

Text and images adapted from Jacobs, R. P., O'Donnell, E. B., and Connecticut DEEP. (2009). A Pictorial Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Connecticut. Hartford, CT. Available for purchase at the DEEP Store.