Members of the Sucker family closely resemble some species in the Minnow family. Some young suckers may be misidentified as a minnow, but a suckers anal fin has a relatively more posterior position. 

• Soft rays in their fins.
• Toothless Jaws with teeth occuring in the throat.
• Mouth protrudes downwards (in most species), with fleshy papillose lips.

Suckers spawn up streams and in lake margins during the spring. They suck up plants and small animals from the bottom using their specialized mouths.

Suckers in their young stages are important prey to game fish and other predators. Some species have been used for bait. They used to have some economic importance to Utah,  the Utah sucker was netted in large numbers commercially from Utah Lake.