Quillback

Conservation status The Quillback is currently at risk for extinction in various states throughout North America including Vermont, New York and Michigan.

Distribution and habitat The Quillback Carpsucker is found throughout much of North America, from Saskatchewan to Florida, and from South Dakota to Alabama.

In Minnesota, and other areas of the United States, the Quillback does not provide any economic benefit to humans because it is not a commercial fish.

It has large, reflective, silver cycloid scales that are responsible for giving the Quillback its characteristic silver color.

Quillback are typically 15-20 inches on average, weighing between 1 and 4 pounds.

Reproduction The Quillback reproduces once yearly, typically in late spring or early summer.

Spawning occurs upstream of the typical Quillback habitat, and they migrate in schools to the spawning site.

The Quillback (Carpiodes cyprinus) is a type of freshwater fish of the sucker family. citation It is deeper-bodied than most suckers, leading to a carplike appearance.

The Quillback does serve some economic benefit to Mexico.

The Quillback possesses a polygynandrous mating system, meaning that two or more males have an exclusive sexual relationship with two or more females.