Carpiodes cyprinus
Quillback
NS
G5
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Cypriniformes (Carps and Minnows)
Catostomidae (Suckers)
Carpiodes
Carpiodes cyprinus (Quillback)
Description
This species account was compiled from
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal.
Distribution
North America: Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River, Hudson Bay and Mississippi River basins from Quebec to Alberta in Canada and south to Louisiana, USA; Atlantic Slope drainages from Delaware River to Altamaha River in USA; Gulf Slope drainages from Apalachicola River to Pearl River in USA.
Habitat Associations
Freshwater. demersal. Found in: streams, lakes.
Biology
Inhabits pools, backwaters and main channels of creeks and small to large rivers (Ref. 10294). Also occurs in lakes. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Feeds on bottom ooze and benthic invertebrates (Ref. 10294), including insects, mollusks and crustaceans, along with plant detritus and sand (Ref. 93252).
Max length: 66.0 cm TL; common length: 52.0 cm TL; max weight: 2940 g; max age: 11 years.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Breed in streams and ponds with rapid flow, on sand and gravel, or in weedy places (Ref. 205). One female may mate with several males (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2011-10-25. Resilience: Low (tmax=11).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: commercial.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Scott, W.B. and E.J. Crossman (1973) Freshwater fishes of Canada. Bull. Fish. Res. Board Can. 184: xi+1-966.
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr (1991) A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p.
Coker, G.A., C.B. Portt and C.K. Minns (2001) Morphological and ecological characteristics of Canadian freshwater fishes. Can. MS Rpt. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2554:iv+89p.
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