The Razorback Sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) is identified by the keel between its head and dorsal fin. This sharp-edged bulge gives rise to its name. This predorsal keel is also used to distinguish it from juveniles, which lack keel. You will mostly see it in the Colorado River Basin. This fish is long-lived and prefers to spawn in the deep waters of the river. The upper part of the fish is olive or brown-black, while the lower part is lighter yellow. It is relatively large, with females being longer and more robust. It has elongated filaments, long snouts, long, rounded, ventrally compressed heads, and males show longer anal and pelvic fins.
Razorback Suckers have a total length between 1.6’-3’ (48-91 cm) and body height of 3.5”-7.1” (9-18 cm). The typical weight of the Razorback Sucker is in the range of 6.6-13.2 lb (3-6 kg). Razorback Suckers have lifespans between 35-50 years.
The Razorback Sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) is identified by the keel between its head and dorsal fin. This sharp-edged bulge gives rise to its name. This predorsal keel is also used to distinguish it from juveniles, which lack keel. You will mostly see it in the Colorado River Basin. This fish is long-lived and prefers to spawn in the deep waters of the river. The upper part of the fish is olive or brown-black, while the lower part is lighter yellow. It is relatively large, with females being longer and more robust. It has elongated filaments, long snouts, long, rounded, ventrally compressed heads, and males show longer anal and pelvic fins.
Razorback Suckers have a total length between 1.6’-3’ (48-91 cm) and body height of 3.5”-7.1” (9-18 cm). The typical weight of the Razorback Sucker is in the range of 6.6-13.2 lb (3-6 kg). Razorback Suckers have lifespans between 35-50 years.
