Fish · GBIF taxon 8236498
Sea Lamprey
Petromyzon marinusAlso known as Vampire Fish, Great Sea Lamprey, Lake Lamprey
Sea lampreys are primitive, jawless fish with flexible, eel-like bodies and a distinctive disc-shaped mouth lined with concentric rows of sharp teeth. Anadromous by nature, adults migrate from ocean or lake waters into freshwater streams where they construct gravel nests, spawn, and die. As adults, they attach to large fish with their suction-cup mouth and rasp through scales to feed on blood and body fluids.
ParasiticAquaticAnadromous
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Lake Trout
- Atlantic Salmon
- Pacific Salmon
Predators
- Lake Trout
- Burbot
- Herons
ThreatsLampricide control programs, river barriers, and habitat restoration targeting invasives
HabitatsCoastal oceans, estuaries, rivers, streams, and large lakes
Life span6 to 9 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPetromyzontiformes
- FamilyPetromyzontidae
- GenusPetromyzon
- SpeciesPetromyzon marinus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observing Migrations: Watch for adult lampreys climbing over low river barriers during spring spawning runs.
- Handling Caution: Avoid handling live specimens as their strong suction disc can attach firmly to skin.
- Reporting Sightings: Report unmanaged sightings in Great Lakes tributaries to local wildlife agencies.
Prey (c) Lythronax246, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Lythronax246 · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Tom and T Herman, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative
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