Any one of numerous species of North American fresh-water cyprinoid fishes of the family Catostomidæ; so called because the lips are protrusile. The flesh is coarse, and they are of little value as food. The most common species of the Eastern United States are the northern sucker (Catostomus Commersoni), the white sucker (C. teres), the hog sucker (C. nigricans), and the chub, or sweet sucker (Erimyzon sucetta). Some of the large Western species are called buffalo fish, red horse, black horse, and suckerel.

A California food fish (Menticirrus undulatus) closely allied to the kingfish (a); -- called also bagre.

flesh of any of numerous North American food fishes with toothless jaws

an organ specialized for sucking nourishment or for adhering to objects by suction

mostly North American freshwater fishes with a thick-lipped mouth for feeding by suction; related to carps

A rubber suction cup on machine feeding devices.

Any of the many freshwater fishes of the family Catostomidæ. Represented in the BWCA by the Longnose Sucker ( Catostomus catostomus), and the ubiquitous White Sucker ( Catostomus commersoni). From the shape of the lips, which suggests these fishes feed by sucking.