Lost River Sucker
The Lost River Sucker (Deltistes luxatus) is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Catostomidae. It is the only living member of the genus Deltistes. It is found only in California and Oregon in the United States. Its population is much reduced from historical numbers for a number of reasons. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. This fish is one of the largest suckers, capable of reaching one meter in length. It can be identified by its long snout with a small hump on top. It is dark on the back and sides and whitish or yellowish on the belly. Its lifespan can exceed 40 years. It does not reach sexual maturity until six to 14 years of age, most maturing around age nine. The sucker prefers deep lakes and pools and fast currents. It goes to the shoreline to obtain food and shelter in the vegetation. It spawns in streams with riffles and substrates of gravel and cobble. Spawning occurs in March, April, and May. The female contains many eggs, up to 235,000, and spawns with several males. The fish spawns several times during its life. The eggs incubate on the stream bottoms for two or three weeks and the larval stage is 40 to 50 days long.[4] The juveniles find shelter in emergent vegetation near the shore. The sucker eats a variety of animal material including zooplankton, various other invertebrates, and periphyton.
Lost River Sucker
Lost River Sucker
Lost River Sucker
Lost River Sucker
Lost River Sucker
Lost River Sucker
Lost River Sucker
Lost River Sucker
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