FAMILY CATOSTOMIDAE 131 



Sturgeon suckers have been observed migrating up tributary streams 

 for spawning in the spring at the same time as the common suckers. In 

 1911 they spawned at Lake of the Woods during the first half of June. 

 They were observed spawning in company with the common suckers at 

 Fond du Lac, Minnesota, May 15, 1939. Their flesh, hke that of the 

 common sucker, is firm and well flavored but rather bony. They seldom 

 bite on a hook and line but are usually taken by spearing during spawn- 

 ing migration. 



GENUS Hypentelhim (Rafinesque) 



This genus contains but one species, the characters of which dis- 

 tinguish the genus. Its range is limited to the eastern section of the 

 United States. 



HOG SUCKER (Hog Molly, Spotted Sucker) 

 Hypentelium nigricans (LeSueur) 



A description of this fish (Figure 18) is almost superfluous, for it is 

 well known by its large head and dark cross blotches to almost every 

 boy who has ever fished. The head is concave on top. the eye posterior 



Figure 18. Hog sucker, Hypentelmin nigricans, 10 inches long. 



to the middle of the head. The scales are large and number 48-55 in the 

 lateral line. The hog sucker is found most frequently in clear, rapid 

 streams, where in midsummer it loves to bask in the sun, lying atop 

 some large rock or in a shallow riffle. 



Forbes and Richardson (1908) said: "The most striking peculiarities 

 of this fish are related to its haunts and feeding habits. The large bony 

 head and the unusually developed pectoral fins, together with the full 

 lips and the papillose mouth, are all related to the fact that it seeks its 

 food in the more rapid parts of streams, pushing about the stones upon 

 the bottoms and sucking up the ooze and slime thus exposed, together 

 with the insect larvae upon which it mainly depends for food. The 

 slender body, the large pectoral fins and the comparatively high colora- 



