The common characteristics of suckers are cycloid scales, soft-rayed fins and abdominal pelvic fins. The pectoral fins are rounded, broad and ventral in position, common of bottom fishes. The species usually has a high protrusible mouth with fleshy lips on the ventral side of the head. Most suckers are bottom feeders which can be seen in there body shape. They use there large ventral mouth and thick fleshy lips to scrap algae and other food off rocks and gravel.
Suckers are benthic spawners which means they lay their eggs in gravel or on rocks.
They have a streamlined body form, which belongs to the genres Catostomus and Mozostoma. Suckers are an introduced non-native species to this area. They lack barbels and an adipose fin. They have small eyes which is common for a species that lives in the dark. The caudal fin of suckers can be either forked or non-forked.