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Suckers: River Redhorse 

River Redhorse
Moxostoma carinatum

Florida Range: In Florida the river redhorse is known only from the Escambia River at the western end of the Panhandle.

Overall distribution: In Gulf Coast rivers this species ranges eastward from southeastern Louisiana to northwestern Florida. From this region it ranges northward to Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania and southeastern Canada.

Identification: This robust, cylindrical sucker may be separated from other similar Florida suckers by its red tail fin. The dorsal and other fins may also be red or reddish. The dorsal fin has a straight or slightly concave margin and the tail fin has a pointed upper lobe which usually is slightly longer than the rounded lower lobe. Crescent-shaped dark spots may be visible on the scales of the back and sides. Overall body color is olive to brownish across the back, with silvery or bronze sides and a white underside.

Life History and Ecology: River redhorse feed primarily on molluscs such as mussels and clams, and their enlarged, molar-shaped, internal pharyngeal teeth are specially adapted for crushing the hard shells of such bivalves. In Alabama they fed heavily upon the introduced Asiatic clam Corbicula, and also upon aquatic insects such as mayflies, midges and caddisflies. Also in Alabama, spawning occurred in April, females producing about 6,000 to 23,000 eggs apiece. Construction of a nest prior to the spawning event is a characteristic behavior of many kinds of fish, such as some of the minnows and sunfishes. However, the river redhorse is the only species of sucker which constructs a nest. Males make nests on gravel shoals by using the head, mouth and tail to dig a depression four to eight feet in diameter. After the nest is completed the male positions himself over the nest, facing upstream. When a female approaches, the male performs a courtship display by rapidly swimming to-and-fro across the nest. Curiously, another male then joins the original male in this dance. Then the female is positioned between the males and the males press closely against her. When the trio are together, the eggs and milt are released, and the fertilized eggs are buried in the gravel. River redhorse may live as long as twelve years and reach a length of 30 inches and a weight of 13.5 pounds.

Normally inhabitants of medium to large size rivers, they may also enter tributary streams and have been observed in reservoirs. They prefer clean rivers with sand, gravel or cobblestone bottoms and swift currents.

Status: Within Florida, it is very rare, and intensive recent sampling of the Escambia River has failed to locate this species, thus it may not now occur in our state. However, it has been collected in the Alabama portion of the river. Generally speaking, river redhorse are usually uncommon or rare throughout much of their geographic range, although they may still be abundant in some rivers outside. They have disappeared from some areas and have been much reduced in numbers in others. Impoundment, pollution and siltation have been factors in its decline. River redhorse are specialized for feeding on molluscs, and the reduction of mussel populations in large river systems may have adversely affected them. Molluscs, except the Asiatic clam (Corbicula), are uncommon in the Florida portion of the Conecuh-Escambia River system, and this lack of native molluscs may diminish the attractiveness of this river to this fish.

Fishery: Where they maintain abundant populations (in other states) they are popular sport fish. Typically they are pursued by anglers during the breeding season when the suckers are concentrated. Techniques used to capture them include snaring with wire hoops, snagging with treble hooks, gigging, spearing, netting, and bow hunting. River redhorse are very edible, although like most suckers, they are bony.

For the "Sucker Fish Regulations" Brochure click here.