Shorthead Redhorse gets its name from the fact that the head is shorter than other redhorse species. The tail is often reddish, and the upper lip often has a small ball shaped welling in the middle and the fish has relatively large scales and a concave dorsal fin.
Widely distributed across the North America.
They feed on aquatic insect larvae, some plant material, but mainly eat algae.
The shorthead goes by a number of local names including redfin sucker, red sucker, redhorse mullet, shorthead mullet, mullet, bigscale sucker, common redhorse and northern redhorse.
They prefer moderate to swift current over sand or gravel bottom.
Identification tips would be to count the lateral line which should have 41 to 45 scales. Scale count around the caudal peduncle (near the tailfin) is 12.