The highfin carpsucker (Carpiodes velifer) is a long-lived freshwater fish found in the southeastern and midwestern United States. The smallest of the carpsuckers, its usual habitat is medium to large-size rivers where it is mostly found 1 to 3 metres (3 to 10 ft) beneath the surface. It is a silvery fish with a prominent dorsal fin, which grows to an average adult length of 36 centimetres (14 in), and a known maximum age of 56 years. It is considered to reach the onset of sexual maturity at the age of three and females have 41,644 to 62,355 ova each. This fish forages on sandy or gravelly bottoms for such small invertebrates as crustaceans, protozoa and mollusks as well as filamentous algae. Young fish are preyed on by northern pike, muskellunge, walleye and largemouth bass and larger fish are caught by recreational fishermen. The highfin carpsucker competes with catfish and does not thrive in rivers with high levels of siltation.

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