''Chasmistes'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

ray-finned fish Actinopterygii (; ), members of which are known as ray-finned fishes, is a class of bony fish. They comprise over 50% of living vertebrate species. The ray-finned fishes are so called because their fins are webs of skin supported by bony or hor ...

in the family

Catostomidae The Catostomidae are the suckers of the order Cypriniformes, with about 78 species in this family of freshwater fishes. The Catostomidae are almost exclusively native to North America. The only exceptions are '' Catostomus catostomus,'' found in ...

. They are native to freshwater habitats in the

Western United States The Western United States (also called the American West, the Far West, and the West) is the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. As American settlement in the U.S. expanded westward, the meaning of the term ''the Wes ...

. Several species are seriously threatened, and one has become

extinct Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...

in recent history (a second extinct species has only been known from fossils).

Characteristics

Members of this genus have a large and stout body, as well as a large head. They often have a hump on their snout. Their mouths are either terminal or subterminal. They have a complete lateral line and a two-chambered gas bladder.

Species

The genus ''Chasmistes'' contains these species: * '' Chasmistes brevirostris''

Cope The cope (known in Latin as ''pluviale'' 'rain coat' or ''cappa'' 'cape') is a liturgical vestment, more precisely a long mantle or cloak, open in front and fastened at the breast with a band or clasp. It may be of any liturgical colours, litu ...

, 1879 —

shortnose sucker The shortnose sucker (''Chasmistes brevirostris'') is a rare species of fish in the family Catostomidae, the suckers. This fish is native to southern Oregon and northern California in the United States. It is a federally listed endangered species ...

* ''

Chasmistes cujus The cui-ui (''Chasmistes cujus'') is a large sucker fish endemic to Pyramid Lake and, prior to its desiccation in the 20th century, Winnemucca Lake in northwestern Nevada. It feeds primarily on zooplankton and possibly on nanoplankton (such as ...

'' Cope, 1883 —

cui-ui The cui-ui (''Chasmistes cujus'') is a large sucker fish endemic to Pyramid Lake and, prior to its desiccation in the 20th century, Winnemucca Lake in northwestern Nevada. It feeds primarily on zooplankton and possibly on nanoplankton (such as a ...

* '' Chasmistes fecundus'' (Cope &

Yarrow ''Achillea millefolium'', commonly known as yarrow () or common yarrow, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. Other common names include old man's pepper, devil's nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier's woundwort, and thousand seal. The ...

, 1875) — Webug sucker * '' Chasmistes liorus'' D. S. Jordan, 1878 —

June sucker The June sucker (''Chasmistes liorus'') is an endangered species of fish endemic to Utah Lake and the Provo River in the U.S. state of Utah. It is a gray or brownish fish with a paler belly, growing up to about . It lives alongside the Utah sucke ...

** ''Chasmistes liorus liorus'' D. S. Jordan, 1878 ** ''Chasmistes liorus mictus'' R. R. Miller & G. R. Smith, 1981 * †'' Chasmistes muriei'' R. R. Miller & G. R. Smith, 1981 — Snake River sucker * †'' Chasmistes spatulifer'' R. R. Miller & G. R. Smith, 1967

References

Catostomidae Fish of the Western United States Freshwater fish of the United States Endemic fauna of the United States Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Catostomidae-stub