Sonora suckers have unique square dorsal fins, and relatively large scales (but fewer than most fish in the genus Catostomus).

[5] The Sonora sucker can live in an array of habitats, varying from trout streams to warm water rivers.

Females lay their eggs in riffles, or a patch of waves or ripples, and are incubated in the spaces between gravel.

However, due to a high level of predation by the Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) in the Salt River Canyon, Sonora suckers are almost completely absent in the area.

Excessive sand deposition in streams caused by watershed erosion has also affected the sucker's habitat.