The highfin carpsucker (Carpiodes velifer) is a freshwater fish found in the southeastern and midwestern United States.

[3] This fish forages on sandy or gravelly bottoms for such small invertebrates as crustaceans, protozoa and mollusks as well as filamentous algae.

[4] Highfin carpsuckers can be found throughout most of the eastern part of the United States and partially west of the Mississippi River.

They can inhabit waters from South Dakota to Louisiana, but are not found in the northeast portion of the United States.

Their diet includes an assortment of small crustaceans, protozoa, filamentous algae, and other aquatic invertebrates such as crayfish and snails.

The highfin carpsucker does not tolerate very much change in the water velocity and prefers to stay in moderate to swift currents.

The abundance of highfin carpsuckers may have a direct impact on traditional game species, because these bottom feeders are responsible for the cleaning of their habitat.