CREEK CHUBSUCKER 



Erimyzon oblongus oblongus (Mitchill) 



The creek chubsucker is distributed along the Atlantic drainage from New 

 England south to Virginia. 



The breeding season in Maine extends through May and occasionally into 

 the first part of June. During the spawning period the males develop a few 

 prominent tubercles on the head. 



Little is actually known about the life history of this sucker. Young are 

 frequently observed schooling and so may play an important part as forage fish. 



The food of this sucker consists of insect larvae, aquatic plants and minute 

 crustaceans. 



The creek chubsucker is not as abundant in Maine as either the white sucker 

 or longnose sucker. 



WHITE SUCKER 



Catostofnus commersonrm commersonnii (Lacepede) 



The white sucker is the commonest and most abundant of the sucker family. 

 It is distributed from Canada to Florida and as far west as Montana. In Maine 

 it is probably one of the most abundant of the large fishes in the lakes and trib- 

 utary streams. 



In Maine the spawning run of the adult fish takes place during the month 

 of May although the period may vary earlier or later depending on seasonal 

 temperature. The spawning runs occur largely at night and are variable in 

 the distance traveled. Many records are available which suggest the possibility 

 that suckers may spawn successfully in lakes. During the breeding season the 

 male develops tubercles on the anal fin, the lower part of the tail and on the 

 upper sides of the paired fins. 



Although the runs take place at night actual spawning goes on night and 

 day. No nest is built and no parental care is exercised. Spawning occurs in riffle 

 areas in shallow water. Usually the female is attended by more than one male 

 with the males pressing in on either side of the female. The eggs and milt are 

 released when the posterior of the bodies are vibrated rapidly. After the com- 

 pletion of spawning the adults drop downstream into the lakes or if a resident 

 stream population to the deep pools. 



After an incubation period of about three weeks the young are hatched. 

 These young furnish the first fish food and are probably the most important food 

 item for the young of many of the game fish. They continue to be valuable as 



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