The sucker family contains many species and is widely distributed throughout the United States. Suckers are omnivorous feeding on both animal and plant material on lake and stream bottoms.
All suckers are spring spawners, some ascending streams in vast numbers.
They spawn in groups over shallow, swift water. The fertilized eggs sink to the bottom, are entrapped in the spaces between gravel or adhere to gravel and are given no parental care. They are important as forage for sport fish and are occasionally sought and eaten by people.