Moxostoma carinatum
(Cope 1870)
Family Catostomidae

Lateral view of a river redhorse
The river redhorse pictured above was collected in Pulaski County, Kentucky in 2010. Photo courtesy of Matthew R. Thomas

The river redhorse is a member of the sucker family. It has a large head and large plicate lips, with a slightly V-shaped rear edge on the lower lip. This species has between six and eight molarlike teeth on the stout pharyngeal arch. The river redhorse has a red caudal fin with pointed upper lobe that is longer than the rounded lower lobe, and large males develop a dark stripe along the side of the body. River redhorses can be found in pools and runs of small to large rivers, and is usually found over gravel or mixed sand and gravel.

Status & distribution

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