| Klamath largescale sucker | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Catostomidae |
| Genus: | Catostomus |
| Species: | C. snyderi |
| Binomial name | |
| Catostomus snyderi Gilbert, 1898 | |
The Klamath largescale sucker (Catostomus snyderi) is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Catostomidae. [2] It is endemic to the Klamath River basin in northern California and southern Oregon, within the Western United States.
Notable physical features of the Klamath largescale sucker include its prominent subterminal mouth, a distinctive sucker, and a short, stubby body. The Klamath largescale sucker is fairly large for a sucker, and can grow up to 50cm. It has a short head, a thick caudal peduncle, and a robust body. It has a short dorsal fin that is positioned closer to the snout than the tail. The mouth is subterminal, with a narrow upper lip that has 4–5 rows of papillae, while the lower lip has a deep medial notch and a single row of papillae. The species' back is green, and its underside ranges from yellow to gold. It typically has 11–12 dorsal fin rays and 7 anal fin rays. The lateral line contains 67–81 scales, with 11–14 rows of scales above and 8–12 rows below. [3]
The species is a benthic omnivore. It is found among a variety of freshwater systems, such as lakes, rivers, and sloughs, respectively. Juveniles' diet consists of zooplankton; adults consume snails, worms, macro-invertebrates, and plant/algae material among the substrate. [3]
Growth rates for the Klamath Largescale Sucker haven’t been precisely measured, but they likely reach maturity at 20-30 cm in length, around 4-6 years of age. One male was found to be 7 years old and 31 centimeters long. The oldest recorded Klamath Largescale Sucker was 31 years old and measured 46 centimeters. [4]
In Upper Klamath Lake, spawning occurs from March to May, with a peak in late March when males migrate upriver first, followed by females. Spawning is triggered by rising temperatures (5.5-19°C) and water flow, starting when temperatures reach about 10°C. The number of eggs produced by females can vary, with estimates of around 39,000 to 64,000 eggs. After hatching, larvae move quickly from spawning sites to rearing areas, drifting at night during their early swim-up stage. Reproduction is undergone via broadcast spawning (gametes are released into the water to be externally fertilized). [4] Furthermore, these eggs are noted as possessing adhesive properties, allowing them to bind to substrate. [3]
This species is endemic to the Klamath River basin in northern California and southern Oregon, within the Western United States. In addition, although outside of its main range, species have also been observed as far north as British Columbia and far east as Montana. [3] Habitat includes rocky pools and runs of creeks and small rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. [5] Adult Klamath Largescale suckers likely lived in deep lake habitats, while juveniles stayed in streams or along lake margins. Today, several larger streams still support breeding populations. Adults have been found both near-shore and offshore in Upper Klamath Lake. They are most often found in large streams where water quality is fairly high, but can also be found in lakes. However, they cannot survive long in water temperatures that exceed 32°C and where dissolved oxygen levels are around 1 mg/L. Historically, they were likely more abundant in deep water lakes. [4]
The population of the Klamath Largescale Sucker has been judged by the IUCN as in decline. [7] Not included under the Endangered Species Act, the species lacks significant legal protections and is consequently susceptible to human exploitation. Largescale Suckers in Northern California and Oregon face various threats throughout their life stages. These include migration barriers, altered water flows, pollution, habitat degradation (such as stream modifications and habitat loss), harvesting, and competition or predation from invasive species. [6] Most water bodies where suckers are found fail to meet state water quality standards for nutrients, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and pH in both Oregon and California. The greatest contemporary threat now facing the species remains the draining of wetlands along the Klamath river basin. Lacking sufficient vegetation to uptake phosphorus and other organic compounds — themselves often the product of urban runoff — such compounds are free to enter the water en masse. This ultimately results in harmful algal blooms (HABs) and dead zones, which poses significant ecological harm. [8] As these large algae blooms die off, their decomposition depletes oxygen in the water, leading to the death of fish and other aquatic life. The degraded water quality also increases the prevalence of pathogens and parasites, further weakening fish and compounding the challenges to sucker survival. [6]
Klamath Largescale Suckers will also hybridize with the federally listed Lost River suckers and Shortnose suckers. In Oregon, most populations seem more stable, likely because they inhabit streams rather than the polluted waters of Upper and Lower Klamath Lakes. They are also able to cross barriers when fish ladders are available. In contrast, California populations are confined to a reservoir, a heavily polluted river, and a wastewater sump, making them more vulnerable to these threats. [6]
After the dam removal of the Chiloquin/Sprague River Dam on the lower Williamson River in 2008, higher densities of drifting sucker larvae were observed downstream of the former dam location, but no significant changes were detected upstream. Adult spawning migrations were primarily influenced by water temperature and remained unaffected by the dam's removal. Larvae began consistently emigrating about 3–4 weeks after adults migrated into a specific section of the river. All three sucker species showed increased upstream migrations past the former dam site after its removal. The Klamath Largescale Suckers exhibited the most substantial increase in upstream migration after dam removal. [9]
Going forward, climate change is expected to significantly impact aquatic habitats in California, primarily through rising water temperatures and shifts in the timing and frequency of droughts and floods. Higher water temperatures can negatively affect fish by reducing growth, lowering reproductive success, and increasing susceptibility to diseases. For suckers in the Lost River, already under stress from high summer temperatures, even minor temperature increases could have serious consequences.
Additionally, climate change will alter the timing and intensity of peak and base flows in streams due to decreased snowpack and reduced seasonal water retention. These changes could make streams less suitable for spawning and rearing and lead to lower flow levels in the Lost River, particularly during extended droughts. Klamath Largescale Suckers were identified as critically at risk of extinction due to the combined effects of climate change and existing stressors [6] even though there is limited data on their actual population numbers.
Suckerfish, including the Klamath Largescale Sucker, hold significant cultural value for local tribes and were a primary food source for centuries before European settlement. They were an important food source to the indigenous peoples of the region prior to European/American colonization, particularly the Klamath and Modoc tribes. [8]
Historically, the Klamath and Modoc Tribes harvested thousands of suckers annually while maintaining sustainable populations. Once celebrated for their delicate, flaky meat, Klamath suckers were highly valued well into the 20th century. Many preferred the sweet meat of this fish to any other fish. However, attitudes against “rough fish” began to fester as more desired non-native fish were introduced; Klamath suckerfish were no longer deemed valuable by the public or wildlife management. By 1962, perceptions of these suckers had grown so hostile that wildlife managers poisoned hundreds of miles of the Green River in an attempt to kill off razorback suckers and other native species to clear the way for imported Rainbow Trout. [10]
Today, Klamath Tribes are limited to capturing only a small number of fish, primarily for scientific research and occasional ceremonial use. To support the survival of these species, the tribes, along with government agencies and private organizations, are actively working to protect and restore the habitats critical to sucker populations. [8]
In the language of the Klamath tribes, Lost River and Shortnose Suckers are called c’waam and qapdo, respectively. [8]
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The Klamath River is a 257-mile (414 km) long river in southern Oregon and northern California. Beginning near Klamath Falls in the Oregon high desert, it flows west through the Cascade Range and Klamath Mountains before reaching the temperate rainforest of California's North Coast, where it empties into the Pacific Ocean. The Klamath River is the third-largest salmon and steelhead producing river on the west coast of the contiguous United States. The river's watershed – the Klamath Basin – encompasses more than 15,000 square miles (39,000 km2), and is known for its biodiverse forests, large areas of designated wilderness, and freshwater marshes that provide key migratory bird habitat.
Upper Klamath Lake is a large, shallow freshwater lake east of the Cascade Range in south-central Oregon in the United States. The largest body of fresh water by surface area in Oregon, it is approximately 25 miles (40 km) long and 8 miles (13 km) wide and extends northwest from the city of Klamath Falls. It sits at an average elevation of 4,140 feet (1,260 m).
The shortnose sucker , also known as the koptu by the Klamath Tribes, is a rare species of fish in the family Catostomidae, the suckers. It is native to southern Oregon and northern California in the United States. This species and related ones were a major food source for local tribes, and are still considered to be sacred animals. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
The Tui chub is a cyprinid fish native to western North America. Widespread in many areas, it is a highly adaptable fish that has historically been a staple food source for native peoples.
The mountain sucker is a sucker found throughout western North America, on both sides of the Rocky Mountains, including the upper Missouri River, Columbia River, Sacramento River, and Colorado River. It is not limited to higher altitudes but is known from locations as high as 2,800 m (9,200 ft). It is a slender, streamlined fish typically under 20 cm (8 in) in length. It is generally olive green or brown above, with pale underparts, and breeding males have a lateral red-orange band and fins suffused with the same color. It is mainly herbivorous, feeding on algae and diatoms. Breeding takes place in late spring and early summer in gravelly riffles in small streams.
The Santa Ana sucker is a freshwater ray-finned fish, endemic to California. It is closely related to the mountain sucker and has dark grey upper parts and silvery underparts. It grows to a maximum length of 25 cm (10 in), but most adults are much smaller than this. It feeds on algae, diatoms and detritus on the floor of shallow streams with sand, gravel or cobble bottoms. It is found in only a few streams in southern California, and many of these in the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area have been restricted to concrete channels. Because of its small area of occupancy and vulnerability, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated this fish as "endangered".
The Pacific lamprey is an anadromous parasitic lamprey from the Pacific Coast of North America and Asia in an area called the Pacific Rim. It is a member of the Petromyzontidae family. The Pacific lamprey is also known as the three-tooth lamprey and tridentate lamprey.
The Warner sucker is a rare species of freshwater ray-finned fish in the family Catostomidae. Native to Oregon in the United States and found only in the Warner Basin, its distribution extends just into Nevada and California. It is a federally listed threatened species. Its other common name is redhorse. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated this fish as an endangered species because of its small extent of occurrence, the small number of locations in which it is found, and the extreme fluctuations in area of occupancy resulting from drought and water abstraction. Conservation efforts have been put in place.
The Lost River sucker , known as the c'waam by the Klamath Tribes, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Catostomidae. It is the only living member of the genus Deltistes. It is found only in California and Oregon. Its population is much reduced from historical numbers for a number of reasons. It is federally listed as an endangered species of the United States.
Catostomus latipinnis is a North American fish identified by its enlarged lower lips. It belongs to the genus Catostomus, commonly known as suckers. Historically, the flannelmouth sucker ranged in the Colorado River Basin, including parts of Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, California, and Arizona; however, this species has been entirely extirpated from the Gila River Basin in Arizona.
The Owens sucker is a fish in the family Catostomidae which is endemic to California.The name fumeiventris has a Latin origin with fumeus meaning smoky and ventris meaning belly. Originally described as a population of Sandbar suckers it became recognized as its own species in 1938. Owens suckers are closely related to the Tahoe sucker and possess the ability to be able to hybridize with Santa Ana suckers.
The Modoc sucker is a rare species of freshwater fish native to northern California and southern Oregon. It grows to a length of about 7 in (18 cm) and becomes sexually mature at 4 in (10 cm). It feeds on algae, small invertebrates and detritus, and hides under stones, detritus and overhanging vegetation. It is found in only a few streams and is listed as an endangered species in California and the United States. Conservation measures have been put in place such as fencing the streams in which it lives from livestock. It was previously rated as "endangered" in 1973 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, but this rating has now been changed to "near threatened", and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the Modoc sucker from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife in 2016.
The Tahoe sucker is a freshwater cypriniform fish inhabiting the Great Basin region of the Western United States.
The Klamath smallscale sucker(Catostomus rimiculus), also known as the Jenny Creek sucker, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Catostomidae. It is a freshwater fish that primarily inhabits the Trinity and Klamath River watersheds, as well as the overall region of the Klamath Basin in general. Within the Klamath Basin, they inhabit the area along with three other sucker fish: the Lost River sucker, shortnose sucker, and the Klamath largescale sucker. These fish can vary in length from 35 cm to 50 cm, and usually have a lifespan of around 9 years to 15 years. They often form mixed schools with speckled dace, sculpins, and juvenile steelhead.
The Sacramento sucker is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Catostomidae. It is primarily found in California with some populations extending into Oregon and Nevada. They inhabit a diverse range of habitats from headwater streams to deep lakes to estuaries.The Sacramento sucker scientific name Catostomus occidentalis describes its morphology and origin, respectively, being an inferiorly mouthed (Catostomus) western (occidentalis) species; the name Western sucker has also been used.
The Owens tui chub was described in 1973 as a subspecies of tui chub endemic to the Owens River Basin in Eastern California, United States. The Owens tui chub is distinguished from its closest relative, the Lahontan tui chub, by scales with a weakly developed or absent basal shield, 13 to 29 lateral and apical radii, also by the structure of its pharyngeal arches, the number of anal fin rays, 10 to 14 gill rakers, and 52 to 58 lateral line scales. Dorsal and lateral coloration varies from bronze to dusky green, grading to silver or white on the belly. It may reach a total length of 30 centimetres (12 in). Owens tui chub are believed to be derived from Lahontan Basin tui chub that entered the Owens Basin from the north during the Pleistocene Epoch.
The Rio Grande sucker is a North American freshwater fish in the family Catostomidae. It has a typical bottom-feeding phenotype and fills lower trophic levels alongside Rio Grande cutthroat trout and Rio Grande chub species. It is smaller sized in comparison to its other family members, with females being the larger between sexes. Coloration tends to benefit the species due to counter-shading patterns. It is endemic to the Rio Grande basin and was once common throughout. The species has maintained a population in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Northern Mexico, but has faced challenges from the pressure of non-native species, habitat loss, degradation, and a variety of other aquatic ecosystem changes. There is current pressure from environmental organizations to federally list the species as threatened or endangered.
Oregon & Northern California Coastal is a freshwater ecoregion in western North America. It includes the coastal rivers of Oregon and Northern California, from the Columbia River mouth in northwestern Oregon to northern Monterey Bay in Central California. It includes the Umpqua, Rogue, Smith River, Klamath, Mad, Eel, and lower Russian rivers, and many smaller coastal rivers and streams, including those on the coast side of the Marin and San Francisco peninsulas.