Occurrences of Catostomid Fishes (Suckers) in the North Canadian River and Lake Eufaula, Oklahoma

A 17-year survey of the North Canadian (Beaver) River, Lake Eufaula, and the Canadian River below Lake Eufaula by the Oklahoma State Health Department between 1976 and 1992 produced seven species of catostomid fishes. During a review of historical fish collections, we found two additional sucker species, for a total of nine catostomids from the drainage. The new species were the lake chubsucker, Erimyzon sucetta, and the white sucker, Catostomus commersoni. Two species may have disappeared from the drainage: the spotted sucker, Minytrema melanops, and the golden redhorse, Moxostoma erythrurum. Eight of the nine species occurred primarily downstream from Oklahoma City. The white sucker was the only species limited to headwater sections of the river. The river carpsucker was the only sucker distributed throughout the system.