Bluehead sucker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bluehead sucker |
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The bluehead sucker (Catostomus discobolus) is a type of fish found only in the western United States, especially in the mountains. It's one of many kinds of suckers living in North America.
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What Does the Bluehead Sucker Look Like?
The bluehead sucker is the biggest type of sucker fish found only in Arizona. It can grow to be over 11.8 inches (30 cm) long. These fish often have dark green or silvery backs and light yellow undersides.
One of the most noticeable things about the bluehead sucker is its very large lips. These lips have tiny bumps on them. It also has a special lower jaw made of cartilage, which helps tell it apart from other suckers.
When it's time to breed, male bluehead suckers get a cool makeover! A blue patch appears on top of their heads. Their lower fins turn yellow or orange, and they get red or rosy lines along their sides. These bright colors likely help them attract females.
Where Do Bluehead Suckers Live?
Bluehead suckers are mostly found in the Colorado River and its smaller streams, especially in the Grand Canyon area. They also live in places like the Snake River and Bear/Weber River systems.
In Arizona, you can find them in specific creeks like Clear, Bright Angel, and Havasu Creeks. They are also seen on the Navajo Reservation and in the San Juan River basin. These fish can live at different heights, from about 2,000 feet (609 meters) to over 6,700 feet (2,060 meters) above sea level.
What Kind of Home Do They Like?
Bluehead suckers prefer larger streams and rivers because of their size. However, they can live in many different kinds of watery homes. They are quite adaptable to temperature, living in cold mountain streams around 54°F (12°C) and warmer desert rivers up to 80°F (27°C).
When the water is clear, these suckers often stay in shallow areas during the day. At night, they move to streams with hard bottoms to find food. Important places for them to lay their eggs are in the streams that flow into the Colorado River, especially in the Grand Canyon.
How Do Bluehead Suckers Reproduce?
Bluehead suckers lay their eggs in the spring and summer. This happens when the water temperature reaches above 59°F (15°C). Males and females meet in streams with gravel or sandy bottoms. The mating process is very quick, lasting only a few seconds.
In the Grand Canyon, they can continue to mate through April, May, and July. They usually only lay eggs in water that is less than 3 feet (1 meter) deep. This might be because shallow water warms up more easily in the sun, which is good for their eggs. Young bluehead suckers grow very fast and can become parents themselves within their first year.
What Do Bluehead Suckers Eat and How Long Do They Live?
Bluehead suckers use their special cartilaginous jaws to scrape food off rocks at the bottom of the water. They mainly eat algae, diatoms (tiny water plants), and other bits of organic material. Even if food is a bit scarce, they don't usually move far from their homes. These fish can live for a very long time, sometimes more than 20 years!
