Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: CARPSUCKER, HIGHFIN

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: OSTEICHTHYES

Order: CYPRINIFORMES

Family: CATOSTOMIDAE

Genus: CARPIODES

Species: VELIFER

Taxonomic Authority: (RAFINESQUE)

Taxonomy References: 002

Status

GAME
STATE RANK S2
GLOBAL RANK G4G5

Status References: 015 , 003 , 011

Habitat Summary

"Inhabits large reservoirs and streams with fairly clear water and low siltation."

Primary Habitat: "Aquatic - river/stream"

References: 001 , 008 , 009 , 010

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Largely confined to Ozarks. The only recent records are from the Meramec, Gasconade and lower Osage river, Lake of the Ozarks and Lake Taneycomo. *001*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
BARRY AUDRAIN ADAIR
BATES BARTON ANDREW
BUTLER BENTON ATCHISON
CAMDEN BOLLINGER BUCHANAN
DALLAS BOONE CALDWELL
DUNKLIN CALLAWAY CARROLL
FRANKLIN CAPE GIRARDEAU CASS
GASCONADE CARTER CHARITON
GENTRY CEDAR CLINTON
HICKORY CHRISTIAN DAVIESS
JEFFERSON CLARK DEKALB
MARIES CLAY GRUNDY
MILLER COLE HARRISON
OSAGE COOPER HOLT
PETTIS CRAWFORD HOWARD
PHELPS DADE IRON
PULASKI DENT JACKSON
RALLS DOUGLAS JOHNSON
RIPLEY GREENE KNOX
SHELBY HENRY LAFAYETTE
ST. LOUIS HOWELL LINN
STONE JASPER LIVINGSTON
TANEY LACLEDE MACON
WAYNE LAWRENCE MERCER
LEWIS NODAWAY
LINCOLN OREGON
MADISON PEMISCOT
MARION PLATTE
MCDONALD PUTNAM
MISSISSIPPI RAY
MONITEAU SALINE
MONROE SCHUYLER
MONTGOMERY SCOTLAND
MORGAN SULLIVAN
NEW MADRID
NEWTON
OZARK
PERRY
PIKE
POLK
RANDOLPH
REYNOLDS
SCOTT
SHANNON
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
STE. GENEVIEVE
STODDARD
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 001 , 006 , 007

Distribution by Watersheds

North Fork from Headwaters to South Fork
Salt R.
Meramec R.
Big R.
St. Francis R. from Headwaters to Wappapello Dam
St. Francis R. from Wappapello Dam to Arkansas Border
Little R.
Grand R. from Headwaters to Shoal Creek
Osage R. from Headwaters to Warsaw, MO.
Niangua R.
Osage R. from Bagnell Dam to Mo. R.
Big Piney R.
Gasconade R. from Big Piney R. to Mo. R.
Lamine R.
White R. above Tablerock Dam
White R. below Tablerock Dam and Little North Fork White R.
Current R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Central Till Plains, Mississippi River Alluvial Plains, Osage Plains, Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Bluestem Prairie/Oak Hickory Forest
Cedar Glades
Oak-Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory-Pine Forest
Southern Floodplain Forest
ALL

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Glaciated Plains: Grand River
Glaciated Plains: Eastern
Glaciated Plains: Lincoln Hills
Ozark Border
Ozark Border: Missouri River
Ozark Border: Mississippi River
Ozark: Springfield Plateau
Ozark: Upper Ozark
Ozark: St. Francois Mountains
Ozark: White River
Ozark: Lower Ozark
Mississippi Lowlands: Lowlands
Osage Plains

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Lacustrine
Riverine

Aquatic Associations:

"Lacustrine, limnetic"
"Riverine, lower perennial"

References for Aquatic Associations: 001 , 006 , 008

Habitat Types:

Pond, Lake, Reservoir
Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 004

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Carnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits

Adult Food Habits

Food Habits Unknown; Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Siltation specified in comments(00050)
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: pond, lake, reservoir
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 008

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Siltation specified in comments(00050)
Big river habitat: backwaters
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Inland wetlands: backwaters

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 014 , 001 , 008

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Water temperature specified in comments(00010)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 001 , 012

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Siltation specified in comments(00050)
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: pond, lake, reservoir
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 001 , 007 , 008

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Siltation specified in comments(00050)
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: pond, lake, reservoir
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)

References for resting adult niche requirements: 001 , 007 , 008

Niche Requirement Summary

Big river habitat: backwaters
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: pond, lake, reservoir
Siltation specified in comments(00050)
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Water level: permanently flooded
Water temperature specified in comments(00010)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
038 Greatest growth during 1st year of life *009*. Highfin is smaller, slower-growing fish than quillback *009,010*.
007 Appear to have lengthy spawning season, ripe males and females taken in OH from late June-September *010*. Adults in breeding condition (presumably spawning) were collected from Meramec R. (MO) in late July.*001*
039 In OH, log w = -4.05206 + 2.80837 log tl, where w = wet weight (g) + tl = total length (mm).*010*

Life History Information

Age and growth information specified in comments(038)
Length-weight relationships specified in comments(039)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy: gleaning
Foraging sites: water
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Spawning site: flowing water

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
038 Greatest growth during 1st year of life *009*. Highfin is smaller, slower-growing fish than quillback *009,010*.
007 Appear to have lengthy spawning season, ripe males and females taken in OH from late June-September *010*. Adults in breeding condition (presumably spawning) were collected from Meramec R. (MO) in late July.*001*
039 In OH, log w = -4.05206 + 2.80837 log tl, where w = wet weight (g) + tl = total length (mm).*010*

References for life history: 001 , 009 , 010

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Regulate harvest of species being described
Water - develop/maintain lakes/ponds
Water - control sedimentation
Water - control pollution (thermal, physical, chemical)

Beneficial Management References: 001 , 006

Adverse Managment Practices:

Water - application of pesticides
Water - application of insecticides
Water - dredging and filling
Water - drainage of wetlands, marshes, ponds, lakes

Adverse Management References: 006 , 016

Comments on Management:

References for Management Comments:

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Pflieger, W.L. 1997. The Fishes Of Missouri, Revised Edition. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 372 Pp.
002 Nelson, Joseph S., Edwin J. Crossman, Héctor Espinosa-Pérez, Lloyd T. Findley, Carter R. Gilbert, Robert N. Lea, and James D. Williams. 2004. Common And Scientific Names Of Fishes From The United States, Canada and Mexico (6th Ed.). Amer. Fish Soc. Spec.
003 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
004 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
005 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
006 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Mo Dept. Of Conservation, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
007 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. The Stream Resources Of Missouri. D-J Project F-1-R-28. Study S-20. Mo Dept. Conserv. 1110 S. College Ave. Columbia, Mo 65201. (573)882-9880.
008 Trautman, M.B. 1957. The Fishes Of Ohio. Oh St. Univ. Press. 683pp.
009 Vanicek, D. 1961. Life History Of The Quillback And Highfin Carpsuckers In The Des Moines River. Proc. Ia Acad. Sci. 68:238-246.
010 Woodward, R.L. and T.E. Wissing. 1976. Age, Growth, And Fecundity Of The Quillback (Carpoides Cyprinus) And Highfin (C. Velifer) Carpsuckers In An Ohio Stream. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 105(3):411-415.
011 The Checklist Of Rare And Endangered Species Of Missouri. 1991. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 44 Pp.
012 Curry, K.D. and A. Spacie. 1984. Differential Use Of Stream Habitat By Spawning Catostomids. Amer. Midl. Nat. 111:267-279.
013 Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement.
014 Sheehan, R.J., W.M. Lewis and L.R. Bodensteiner. 1990. Winter Habitat Requirements And Overwintering Of Riverine Fishes. S. Il Fisheries Res. Lab., Carbondale, Il. D-J Project F-79-R, Study 101. 234 Pp.
015 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.
016 Quinn, Jeffrey W. and Thomas J. Kwak. 2003. Fish assemblage changes in an Ozark River after impoundment: a long-term perspective. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 132:110-119