Southeastern Blue Sucker: Facts & Habitat

About Southeastern Blue Sucker

The southeastern blue sucker is a freshwater fish of the Pearl, Pascagoula and Alabama river systems. Its documented range centers on the southeastern United States.

NativeFresh4 states

Range and natural history

FishBase recognizes Cycleptus meridionalis separately from the other blue sucker species. The drainage is consequently an important part of checking an identification, alongside the formal morphological characters. A record labeled only blue sucker may need reassessment before it can be assigned to this species.

Sources: Cycleptus meridionalis species summary

Guide sources

Research reviewed 2026-10-19.

Cycleptus meridionalis species summary — FishBase

Range

Where it lives

58%of mapped records

Share of 81 GBIF observation records with a state location, across 4 states.

Share of records by state

Habitat

Water and movement

Water: WoRMS records this species in fresh water.
Migration: Migratory
Pattern: Potamodromous — migrates within fresh water

Classification

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Superclass: Actinopterygii
Class: Teleostei
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Catostomidae
Genus: Cycleptus
Species: Cycleptus meridionalis
ITIS TSN: 639711
WoRMS AphiaID: 1010329
GBIF key: 2359100

Common questions about Southeastern Blue Sucker

What is the scientific name of Southeastern Blue Sucker?

The scientific name is Cycleptus meridionalis, in the family Catostomidae. Classification follows ITIS.

Does Southeastern Blue Sucker live in fresh water or salt water?

WoRMS records this species in fresh water.

Where has Southeastern Blue Sucker been recorded in the United States?

GBIF has observations in 4 states, with the most records in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana. The map shows observation records, which do not establish the complete natural range.

Closest relatives