The harelip sucker was first collected in 1859 and described in 1877. It spread from the south-east United States to the middle and lower Ohio basin, the [[White River (Arkansas)|White]] drainage of the [[Ozarks]] and the [[Maumee River|Maumee]] system of [[Lake Erie]]. This fish holds the dubious distinction of being the fish species lost from the largest number of American states—eight. The last specimen was collected in 1893. By 1970, the species was believed to be extinct. The only known collection in Alabama came from Cypress Creek, Lauderdale County, in 1889. On the slight chance of collecting this species the Alabama Department of Conservation and natural resources repeatedly sampled the lower reaches of Cypress Creek in 1992 and 1993. Although they examined a total of 30 species, including six suckers, their efforts were unsuccessful. The last researcher that has reported receiving a specimen claims he found retrieved it from the Elk River in 1882, probably from Tennessee. It is believed that these fish became extinct when their habitats were modified by [[siltation]]. From anatomical studies we see that these fish used sight to feed. They resided in very clear streams. It is believed that their demise began with the deforestation and land cultivation of the early nineteenth century.