Carpiodes

Carpiodes
Carpiodes carpio
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cypriniformes
Family:	Catostomidae
Subfamily:	Ictiobinae
Genus:	Carpiodes Rafinesque, 1820
Type species
Catostomus cyprinus Lesueur, 1817

Carpiodes is a genus of suckers found in freshwater in North America, ^[1] containing species with exceptionally long lifespans for their body size. ^[2] Long neglected as 'rough fish' in traditional fisheries, in 2025 it was discovered that the three species of carpsucker can live more than 50 years. ^[2]

Characteristics

The fish in this genus have a long and hook-shaped dorsal fin. They have a silver body and a white to orange pelvic fin. They have a complete lateral line, and have a two-chambered gas chamber. ^[3] The three species of carpsucker are long-lived freshwater animals, with known maximum lifespans of 52 years (Quillback), and 56 years (Highfin carpsucker and River carpsucker). ^[2]

Species

There are currently three recognized species in the genus: ^[1]

• Carpiodes carpio (Rafinesque, 1820) (River carpsucker)
• Carpiodes cyprinus (Lesueur, 1817) (Quillback)
• Carpiodes velifer (Rafinesque, 1820) (Highfin carpsucker)

References

1. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Carpiodes". FishBase . August 2011 version.
2. Lackmann, Alec R.; Lyons, John; Kuber, Kimberly A.; Parks, Timothy P.; Walchak, Daniel L.; Bielak-Lackmann, Ewelina S.; Vaughan, Charles R.; Robertson, Sarah D.; Woodling, John D.; Clark, Mark E. (2025). "Otolith Age Analysis Reveals Lifespans Greater Than 50 Years for the Three Species of Carpsucker (Carpiodes spp.) in Wisconsin". Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries. 5 (6): e70136. doi:10.1002/aff2.70136. ISSN   2693-8847.
3. Page, Lawrence M.; Burr, Brooks M. (2011). Peterson Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes of North America North of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 301. ISBN   978-0547242064.