There is a disjunction between the eastern and western populations with no records of the species being present in the waterways from Florida northward along the Appalachian Mountain corridor. The creek chubsucker adults occur commonly in pools in sluggish streams, spring pools, and backwater areas, while juveniles can be found in head water rivulets. During the breeding season, congregations of breeding males and females migrate upstream and, can be found on clean rubble or gravel beds and less commonly on sandy or vegetated shallow water beds. Some populations are in decline where siltation pollution is evident. Taxonomy Three subspecies have been described: Erimyzon oblongus oblongus (Mitchill) - northeastern subspecies, typically with 11–12 dorsal rays Erimyzon oblongus claviromis (Girard) - formerly regarded as the western subspecies, typically with 10–11 dorsal rays, but now recognized as a separate species, Erimyzon claviromis (Girard, 1856) Erimyzon oblongus connectens Hubbs, 1930 - endemic to the Altamaha River system in Georgia, although later authors do not recognize this subspecies and regard it as a population that intergrades the northeastern and western subspecies Ecology The creek chubsucker is a bottom feeding forager in freshwater streams. The adults are generally solitary, and can be found near the substrate of slowly flowing streams where they forage for food. Most of the prey items making up the creek chubsucker's diet include microcrustacea (Copepod, Cladocera, etc.), organic detritus, algae, diatoms, small clams, Chironomidae larvae and Diptera larvae. A majority of juvenile life is spent in mixed schools with other Cyprinidae in midwater areas. Creek chubsucker juveniles are thought to be an important forage species for game fish like the Esox and Centrarchidae, but their rapid growth rate usually ensures escape from predatory fish and assures an annual recruitment of young. The creek chubsucker shares habitat with and requires similar spawning sites as white suckers (Catostomus commersoni) and northern hogsuckers (Hypentelium nigracans). This inadvertently leads to competition of space and resources. Life history The spawning season for the creek chubsucker runs from March to May, with the eastern subspecies spawning at a water temperature of 11 degrees C, with most activity at night. The western subspecies spawns at water temperatures of 12–24 degrees C, spawning in the afternoon. Habitat suitable for spawning is usually in small creeks with small cleared depressions on clear, gravel bottoms of pools just above riffles. Prior to spawning, males and females migrate upstream where possible. Males defend