Native to Arizona. Very rare. Federally listed as Endangered. Body streamlined, dark olive-gray above, silver sides. Small head with snout overhanging mouth. High pronounced hump immediately behind head. This high-hump acts as a barrier to passing water forcing the body against the bottom where currents are slightly less, thus enabling these fish to move through rapids separating one eddying habitat from another. Deeply embedded scales. Slender caudal peduncle. Dorsal fin rays usually 9, anal fin rays 10 or more. Length; up to 18 inches. Weight; over 2 pounds.

Location and Habitat:
Historically occurred on the Colorado River and its main tributaries from the present site of Hoover Dam northward into Utah. Now found only in the Little Colorado River and adjacent portions of the Colorado River. Prefers deep, fast-moving, turbid waters, often associated with large boulders and steep cliffs. Spawning occurs between April and July.

Food:
Humpback chubs feed predominately on small aquatic insects, diatoms and filamentous algae.

Angling:
Protected species.

Razorback Sucker (Xyrauchen texanus)

Native to Arizona. Back, olive to brown-black, sides brown or pinkish; Belly, white to yellow. Adults have sharp-edged keel or "humpback". Mouth facing downward; Lower lip widely separated into two lobes by a deep groove. 13-16 dorsal rays; 7 anal rays. Length; Up to 36 inches; Weight 1 to 13 pounds, and may live upward of 40 years.

Location Habitat:

The endangered razorback sucker may be extirpated from Grand Canyon. This fish was historically widely distributed throughout both the Upper and Lower Colorado River Basins. No razorbacks have been captured from the River in recent years. Adult razorback suckers are found in the Colorado River and the lower San Juan River above Lake Powell; in Lake Mead; and Lake Mohave. Prefers rivers with strong, uniform currents over sandy bottoms. Also found in eddies and backwaters adjacent to river channels, concentrating in deep places near cut banks.

Food:

The razorback sucker eat algae, aquatic insect larvae and planktonic crustaceans.

Angling:

Listed as Endangered and restricted from fishing.

Table Quality:

Early reports indicate the razorback was used extensively by Native Americans as a food source. 'Old timers,' interviewed in the Phoenix area, described the razorback sucker as an excellent food fish.

Related Information

Fishes of Grand Canyon NP (36kb PDF File)

Grand Canyon Vertebrate Animal Species List (223kb PDF File)

Grand Canyon Threatened & Endangered Species List (52kb PDF File)

Historical Native Fishes of Glen and Grand Canyons  website

Arizona Game & Fish website