Sacramento Sucker
Catostomus occidentalis
Family: Catostomidae (Suckers)
Etymology: Cato = lower; stomus = mouth; occidentalis = western
The suckers are sometimes confused with catfishes by those not overly familiar with fishes. Both groups often have downward-facing mouths, but the two groups are not closely related and they live rather different lives. While catfishes, such as the brown bullhead, are often found in lakes or slow moving waters, suckers are typically found in much faster, clear, cool streams. Both groups use the mouth where they use the mouth to eat items from the substrate. Catfishes often have barbels ("whiskers") to help them detect food; suckers have "papilose" lips, meaning lips with enlarged bumps that allow them to detect food.
There are many species of suckers in California and the exact shape and distribution of bumps on the lips is a key tool for identifying the different species. Equally, if not more importantly, the species are found in different parts of the state. So, for instance, the Sacramento Sucker, is the only sucker found in the Lower American River. It might not surprise you to learn that the Modoc Sucker is found in Modoc County in the far northeast, the Tahoe Sucker is found is the Lahontan drainage system (near Tahoe), etc.