The highfin carpsucker (Carpiodes velifer) is a freshwater fish found in the southeastern and midwestern United States. Its usual habitat is medium to large-size rivers where it is mostly found 1 to 3 metres (3 to 10 ft) beneath the surface. It is a silvery fish with a prominent dorsal fin, which grows to an average length of 26.5 centimetres (10 in). It reaches sexual maturity at the age of three and females have 41,00-62,000 eggs per ova as found in Woodward and Wissing (1976). This fish forages on sandy or gravelly bottoms for such small invertebrates as crustaceans, protozoa and mollusks as well as filamentous algae. Young fish are preyed on by northern pike, muskellunge, walleye and largemouth bass and larger fish are caught by recreational fishermen. The highfin carpsucker competes with catfish and does not thrive in rivers with high levels of siltation.
The highfin carpsucker is generally around 26.5 centimetres (10.4 in) long, with a maximum recorded length of 50 centimetres (20 in). A silvery fish, it receives its specific name "velifer" from its exceptionally long dorsal fin. It can live for about twelve years.[2]
DistributionEdit
Highfin carpsuckers can be found throughout most of the eastern part of the United States and partially west of the Mississippi River.[3] They have a traditional temperate-water distribution and are most commonly found between 46 and 31°N. They can inhabit waters from South Dakota to Louisiana, but are not found in the northeast portion of the United States. They can be found even more abundantly in the Mississippi River basin and the Lake Michigan drainages, as well as in adjacent rivers and drainages. The highfin carpsucker has been introduced in the Santee River and along Cape Fear in North Carolina. Highfin carpsuckers are generally found in large- to moderate-sized rivers. This species is found in medium-depth water (4 to 10 ft) usually in areas with rocky gravel substrates. They tend to stay in more shallow water than most carpsuckers and do not go in smaller streams like the quillback.
EcologyEdit
Their diet includes an assortment of small crustaceans, protozoa, filamentous algae, and other aquatic invertebrates such as crayfish and snails. This species prefers to feed in large to moderately sized rivers, but usually stays closer to the bank than the open river channel. However, it is not common for the highfin carpsucker to be found in very shallow water. Northern pike, muskellunge, walleye, and largemouth bass have been known to prey on the highfin carpsucker.[4] However, humans are still the most significant predator this species encounters.
The highfin carpsucker does not tolerate very much change in the water velocity and prefers to stay in moderate to swift currents. This species feeds and thrives in areas with a consistent sandy or rocky gravel substrate. Siltation can cause a variety of problems for this species, and some of the other species with which the highfin directly competes. Catfish and other carps are their toughest competitors. Some of these species possibly survive in the same areas, but the highfin carpsucker does best without much competition. The abundance of highfin carpsuckers may have a direct impact on traditional game species, because these bottom feeders are responsible for the cleaning of their habitat. Fisheries depend on them to keep the environment in check so it can support more marketable game species.
LifecycleEdit
In the third year of life, this species becomes sexually mature. Highfin carpsuckers breed when temperatures are around 17 °C (63 °F). Highfins have a lengthy spawning period and in Ohio were found spawning from late June-September. They only breed once a year, not again in the fall like some species. After spawning, they live for around 12 years in the wild. However, if this species is grown in captivity, it may only live for four years.
Highfin carpsuckers migrate locally, but are not considered a migratory species.
ReferencesEdit
^NatureServe (2013). "Carpiodes velifer". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T202055A2733241. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202055A2733241.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
Young Shawn P.; Grabowski Timothy B.; Ely Patrick C. 2010. First Record of Carpiodes velifer (Highfin Carpsucker) in the Apalachicola River, Florida. SOUTHEASTERN NATURALIST Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Pages: 165-170
Hammerson, G. 2004.Nature Serve Explorer. An online ecyclpedia of Life. Comprehensive Report Species - Carpiodes velifer
Ronald L. Woodwarda & Thomas E. Wissinga. 1976. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. Age, Growth, and Fecundity of the Quillback (Carpiodes cyprinus) and Highfin (C. velifer) Carpsuckers in an Ohio Stream. Volume 105, Issue 3 .
Woodward RL; Wissing TE. 1976. Age, Growth, and fecundity of Quillback (Capiodes cyprinius) and Highfin (Capiodes velifer) carpsuckers in the Ohio stream. Transactions of the American Fisheris Society. Volume:105 Issue:3 Pages:411-415
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations August 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message The highfin carpsucker Carpiodes velifer is a freshwater fish found in the southeastern and midwestern United States Its usual habitat is medium to large size rivers where it is mostly found 1 to 3 metres 3 to 10 ft beneath the surface It is a silvery fish with a prominent dorsal fin which grows to an average length of 26 5 centimetres 10 in It reaches sexual maturity at the age of three and females have 41 00 62 000 eggs per ova as found in Woodward and Wissing 1976 This fish forages on sandy or gravelly bottoms for such small invertebrates as crustaceans protozoa and mollusks as well as filamentous algae Young fish are preyed on by northern pike muskellunge walleye and largemouth bass and larger fish are caught by recreational fishermen The highfin carpsucker competes with catfish and does not thrive in rivers with high levels of siltation Highfin carpsuckerConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ActinopterygiiOrder CypriniformesFamily CatostomidaeGenus CarpiodesSpecies C veliferBinomial nameCarpiodes velifer Rafinesque 1820 SynonymsCatostomus velifer Rafinesque 1820 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Ecology 4 Lifecycle 5 ReferencesDescription EditThe highfin carpsucker is generally around 26 5 centimetres 10 4 in long with a maximum recorded length of 50 centimetres 20 in A silvery fish it receives its specific name velifer from its exceptionally long dorsal fin It can live for about twelve years 2 Distribution EditHighfin carpsuckers can be found throughout most of the eastern part of the United States and partially west of the Mississippi River 3 They have a traditional temperate water distribution and are most commonly found between 46 and 31 N They can inhabit waters from South Dakota to Louisiana but are not found in the northeast portion of the United States They can be found even more abundantly in the Mississippi River basin and the Lake Michigan drainages as well as in adjacent rivers and drainages The highfin carpsucker has been introduced in the Santee River and along Cape Fear in North Carolina Highfin carpsuckers are generally found in large to moderate sized rivers This species is found in medium depth water 4 to 10 ft usually in areas with rocky gravel substrates They tend to stay in more shallow water than most carpsuckers and do not go in smaller streams like the quillback Ecology EditTheir diet includes an assortment of small crustaceans protozoa filamentous algae and other aquatic invertebrates such as crayfish and snails This species prefers to feed in large to moderately sized rivers but usually stays closer to the bank than the open river channel However it is not common for the highfin carpsucker to be found in very shallow water Northern pike muskellunge walleye and largemouth bass have been known to prey on the highfin carpsucker 4 However humans are still the most significant predator this species encounters The highfin carpsucker does not tolerate very much change in the water velocity and prefers to stay in moderate to swift currents This species feeds and thrives in areas with a consistent sandy or rocky gravel substrate Siltation can cause a variety of problems for this species and some of the other species with which the highfin directly competes Catfish and other carps are their toughest competitors Some of these species possibly survive in the same areas but the highfin carpsucker does best without much competition The abundance of highfin carpsuckers may have a direct impact on traditional game species because these bottom feeders are responsible for the cleaning of their habitat Fisheries depend on them to keep the environment in check so it can support more marketable game species Lifecycle EditIn the third year of life this species becomes sexually mature Highfin carpsuckers breed when temperatures are around 17 C 63 F Highfins have a lengthy spawning period and in Ohio were found spawning from late June September They only breed once a year not again in the fall like some species After spawning they live for around 12 years in the wild However if this species is grown in captivity it may only live for four years Highfin carpsuckers migrate locally but are not considered a migratory species References Edit NatureServe 2013 Carpiodes velifer IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013 e T202055A2733241 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2013 1 RLTS T202055A2733241 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 Carpiodes velifer Rafinesque 1820 highfin carpsucker FishBase Retrieved 22 January 2016 Pam Fuller 2011 Carpiodes velifer USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database Gainesville FL https nas er usgs gov queries factsheet aspx SpeciesID 343 RevisionDate 3 6 2011 nas er usgs gov queries factsheet aspx SpeciesID 343 Young Shawn P Grabowski Timothy B Ely Patrick C 2010 First Record of Carpiodes velifer Highfin Carpsucker in the Apalachicola River Florida SOUTHEASTERN NATURALIST Volume 9 Issue 1 Pages 165 170 Pam Fuller 2011 Carpiodes velifer USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database Gainesville FL https nas er usgs gov queries factsheet aspx SpeciesID 343 RevisionDate 3 6 2011 Hammerson G 2004 Nature Serve Explorer An online ecyclpedia of Life Comprehensive Report Species Carpiodes velifer Ronald L Woodwarda amp Thomas E Wissinga 1976 Transactions of the American Fisheries Society Age Growth and Fecundity of the Quillback Carpiodes cyprinus and Highfin C velifer Carpsuckers in an Ohio Stream Volume 105 Issue 3 Woodward RL Wissing TE 1976 Age Growth and fecundity of Quillback Capiodes cyprinius and Highfin Capiodes velifer carpsuckers in the Ohio stream Transactions of the American Fisheris Society Volume 105 Issue 3 Pages 411 415 nas er usgs gov queries factsheet aspx SpeciesID 343 www dnr state oh us Default aspx tabid 22718 www iowagis org iris fishatlas IA163920 html Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Highfin carpsucker amp oldid 1147216256, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
