Two peptides with urotensin II (UII = smooth muscle stimulating) activity have been isolated from urophyses of the sucker, Catostomus commersoni. The amino acid sequences of the two peptides, designated UIIA and UIIB, are as follows: UIIA, H-Gly-Ser-Gly-Ala-Asp-Cys-Phe-Trp-Lys-Tyr-Cys-Val-OH; UIIB, H-Gly-Ser-Asn-Thr-Glu-Cys-Phe-Trp-Lys-Tyr-Cys-Val-OH. These peptides have the part sequence Cys-Phe-Trp-Lys-Tyr-Cys-Val in common with the UII peptide from Gillichthys mirabilis and the part-sequence Phe-Trp-Lys in common with somatostatin.