Thoburnia rhothoeca facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thoburnia rhothoeca |
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Catostomus rhothoecus Thoburn, 1896 |
The torrent sucker (scientific name: Thoburnia rhothoeca) is a special type of fish. It lives in the clear, flowing waters of Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. This fish is known for its unique features and how it lives in fast-moving streams.
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What Does the Torrent Sucker Look Like?
The torrent sucker is a small fish, usually no longer than seven inches (about 18 centimeters). It has a small mouth with lower lips that look almost like triangles. It also has a small black skull.
This fish shows something called sexual dimorphism. This means male and female fish look a bit different from each other:
- Male suckers have a thin red stripe along their side. Their top (dorsal) and bottom (ventral) fins are long.
- Female suckers have a thin brown stripe along their side. Their top and bottom fins are shorter.
Where Does the Torrent Sucker Live?
The torrent sucker lives in parts of Northern Virginia and Eastern West Virginia. You can often find it in the James River and its smaller connecting streams. It also lives in the Potomac River and its branches.
This fish prefers creeks and small rivers with clear water. It likes places where the riverbed is rocky. Torrent suckers can live in water that is warm or cold. Younger torrent suckers often hang out in smaller, calmer pools of water.
Life Cycle and Behavior
Torrent suckers become old enough to reproduce when they are one or two years old. They reproduce by spawning, which usually happens from February to May. During this time, female suckers lay about 780 eggs (called oocytes). Each egg is very tiny, about two millimeters wide.
The torrent sucker is mostly a carnivore, meaning it eats other animals. Its main food is small insect larvae called Chironomidae. However, it will eat many other kinds of insects if they are available. The fish also eats detritus, which is dead plant and animal matter.
Conservation Status
The torrent sucker is currently listed as a "least concern" species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. This is good news! It means that the fish population is stable, and it lives in a large area. So, for now, it is not considered to be in danger.
See also
In Spanish: Thoburnia rhothoeca para niños
