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U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN NO. 47, PL. XXXVIU 94a 94, 94«. Lagochila lackk.x. (P. 199.)

Harelip sucker

Extinct North American fish with a split lower lip.

Photo: Evermann, Barton Warren; Jordan, David Starr, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The harelip sucker was a ray-finned fish native to the United States. It vanished after 1893 due to habitat siltation from deforestation. This species is notable for being the first recently extinct fish in the region.

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  • Last seen alive in 1893
  • Had a split lower lip
  • Fed by sight in clear water
  • Grew up to 18 inches long
  • Extinct due to siltation

What it is

This ray-finned fish belonged to the sucker family. It had a short head that made up about one-fifth of its body length. The upper lip could not extend forward, and the lower lip split into two separate lobes. Its back was olive or brown, while the belly and sides were silver. The dorsal fin had a black edge and a slightly curved rear margin. Fresh specimens showed orange tint on the lower fins.

Where it lives

The species lived in the southeast United States. Its range extended to the middle and lower Ohio basin. It also inhabited the White drainage in the Ozarks and the Maumee system near Lake Erie. These fish required clear water with moderate to swift currents. They preferred stream beds made of gravel or rock. The last confirmed sighting occurred in 1893.

How it lives

Anatomical studies suggest this fish relied on sight to find food. It ate snails, limpets, fingernail clams, and small crustaceans. The unique shape of its lips indicates a specialized feeding method. Little is known about its daily behavior or predators. Researchers have examined only about thirty preserved specimens. These samples provide limited insight into its ecological role.

Breeding and life cycle

Detailed life history records do not exist due to early extinction. Historical accounts call them May suckers because they spawned in that month. Adults could grow to eighteen inches long. They weighed several pounds at full size. No further details on egg laying or juvenile growth are available from the remaining scientific records.

Harelip sucker
A drawing made by EveryFish from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real fish.

Fish and people

Deforestation and land cultivation in the nineteenth century destroyed its habitat. Soil erosion caused siltation that clouded the clear streams. This sediment blocked the visual feeding strategy of the fish. It also killed the mollusks and crustaceans the fish ate. Starvation and habitat loss led to its disappearance. It is the first recently extinct fish species in the area.

Status and threats

The species is considered extinct. It has not been seen alive since 1893. Scientists believed it was gone by 1970. Recent sampling efforts in Alabama failed to find any individuals. The primary threat was human encroachment through agriculture and logging. Lack of environmental regulations allowed severe habitat degradation.

Questions people ask about Harelip sucker

Why did the harelip sucker go extinct?

Deforestation and farming caused soil erosion. This silted up the clear streams where the fish lived. The cloudy water prevented visual feeding and killed their prey.

What did the harelip sucker eat?

It consumed snails, limpets, fingernail clams, and crustaceans. Its specialized lips helped it gather these small animals from the stream bed.

Where did the harelip sucker live?

It inhabited clear, fast-moving streams in the southeast United States. Its range included the Ohio basin and areas near Lake Erie.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Harelip sucker", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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