Carpiodes cyprinus
(Lesueur 1817)
Family Catostomidae

Lateral view of a quillback
The quillback shown above was collected in Gulf County, Florida in 2015. It is now part of the Florida Museum ichthyology collection, UF 238188. Florida Museum photo by Zachary Randall

The quillback is a member of the sucker family, and has a deep and highly arched body. This species has a long falcate dorsal fin, no large papilla on the lower lip and a rounded snout. Quillbacks can be found in pools and runs of creeks and small to large rivers.

Status & distribution

  • Status — Native freshwater
  • Florida Distribution — Western and North Central drainages
  • River Drainages —Escambia River, Choctawhatchee River and the Apalachicola River
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