Carpiodes carpio
Carpiodes carpio
(River Carpsucker)
Fishes
Native Transplant
Collection Info
Point Map
Species Profile
Animated Map

Nate Tessler Copyright Info
Carpiodes carpio (Rafinesque, 1820)
Common name: River Carpsucker
Taxonomy: available through www.itis.govITIS logo

Identification: Becker (1983); Hubbs et al. (1991); Page and Burr (1991); Etnier and Starnes (1993).
Size: 64 cm.
Native Range: Mississippi River basin from Pennsylvania to Montana and south to Louisiana; Gulf Slope drainage from Calcasieu River, Louisiana, to Rio Grande, Texas and New Mexico. Also in Mexico (Page and Burr 1991).
Native range data for this species provided in part by NatureServe NS logo
Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) Explained
Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Nonindigenous Occurrences: Four young River Carpsuckers were collected in 1927 in a tributary to the lower Maumee River, Ohio (Lee et al. 1980 et seq.; Trautman 1981; Page and Burr 1991).  Some doubt exists about the veracity of this record.  Trautman (1981) says there is doubt about his and Carl L. Hubbs ability to identify young of this species. Since no others have ever been collected, he posed three possibilities: 1) they were introduced with shipments of buffalo and failed to become established; 2) an Ohio drainage collection was mixed with a Maumee collection; or 3) a relict population exists.  He considered the first possibility the most probable.

Table 1. States with nonindigenous occurrences, the earliest and latest observations in each state, and the tally and names of HUCs with observations†. Names and dates are hyperlinked to their relevant specimen records. The list of references for all nonindigenous occurrences of Carpiodes carpio are found here.

StateFirst ObservedLast ObservedTotal HUCs with observations†HUCs with observations†
FL200920091Escambia
GA200920091Lower Ocmulgee
IN199519951Mississinewa
NE200120011Wood
ND200320082Upper Red; Western Wild Rice
OH192719271Lower Maumee
OK192519251Bois D'arc-Island
SD200920091Vermillion
TN200820081Horn Lake-Nonconnah
TX195920162East Galveston Bay; Upper Salt Fork Red
WY200320031Dry

Table last updated 3/29/2025

† Populations may not be currently present.
Means of Introduction: It is likely that individuals of this species were included in shipments of buffalo-fishes Ictiobus spp., which were intentionally stocked in Ohio in western Lake Erie between 1920 and 1930 (Lee et al. 1980 et seq.; Trautman 1981).
Status: Failed in Ohio.
Impact of Introduction: The impacts of this species are currently unknown, as no studies have been done to determine how it has affected ecosystems in the invaded range. The absence of data does not equate to lack of effects. It does, however, mean that research is required to evaluate effects before conclusions can be made.
References: (click for full references)

Becker, G.C. 1983. Fishes of Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, WI.

Etnier, D.A., and W.C. Starnes. 1993. The fishes of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, TN.

Hubbs, C., R.J. Edwards, and G.P. Garrett. 1991. An annotated checklist of freshwater fishes of Texas, with key to identification of species. Texas Journal of Science, Supplement 43(4):--56.

Lee, D.S., C.R. Gilbert, C.H. Hocutt, R.E. Jenkins, D.E. McAllister, and J.R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980 et seq. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, NC.

Page, L.M., and B.M. Burr. 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. The Peterson Field Guide Series, volume 42. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA.

Trautman, M. B. 1981. The fishes of Ohio. Ohio State University Press, Columbus, OH.

Other Resources:
FishBase Summary
Author: Fuller, P.
Revision Date: 4/30/2018
Peer Review Date: 3/6/2011

Citation Information:
Fuller, P., 2025, Carpiodes carpio (Rafinesque, 1820): U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL, https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?SpeciesID=341, Revision Date: 4/30/2018, Peer Review Date: 3/6/2011, Access Date: 3/29/2025

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.

Disclaimer:

The data represented on this site vary in accuracy, scale, completeness, extent of coverage and origin. It is the user's responsibility to use these data consistent with their intended purpose and within stated limitations. We highly recommend reviewing metadata files prior to interpreting these data.

Citation information: U.S. Geological Survey. [2025]. Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Gainesville, Florida. Accessed [3/29/2025].

Contact us if you are using data from this site for a publication to make sure the data are being used appropriately and for potential co-authorship if warranted.

For general information and questions about the database, contact Wesley Daniel. For problems and technical issues, contact Matthew Neilson.



Disclaimer:

The Nonindigenous Occurrences section of the NAS species profiles has a new structure. The section is now dynamically updated from the NAS database to ensure that it contains the most current and accurate information. Occurrences are summarized in Table 1, alphabetically by state, with years of earliest and most recent observations, and the tally and names of drainages where the species was observed. The table contains hyperlinks to collections tables of specimens based on the states, years, and drainages selected. References to specimens that were not obtained through sighting reports and personal communications are found through the hyperlink in the Table 1 caption or through the individual specimens linked in the collections tables.



Loading...