Lamprey
Petromyzon sp. (Petromyzon marinus?)
Where is it found?
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Marine and freshwater species and marine species return to rivers to spawn
Diet and foraging method
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Young filter feed on detritus and algae.
Adults attach themselves on to fish and drink their blood.
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Key adaptations
Lampreys have an oval shaped mouth with rows of sharp teeth inside which acts as a a large sucker to attach onto prey. They produce secretions which stops the victim's blood from clotting whilst they are attached.
Social organisation and mating system
Solitary
Polygynous mating system where females may lay up to 100,000 eggs that are then externally fertilised by males
Did you know that...?
Once sea lampreys begin their journey back to the rivers to spawn, their digestive system disintegrates so they can no longer feed and so they die soon after spawning.
Taxonomy
Picture credits:
Maps from: http://species.mol.org/species/
"Petromyzon-marinus2 FWS". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Petromyzon-marinus2_FWS.jpg#/media/File:Petromyzon-marinus2_FWS.jpg
"Havsnejonöga" by Original uploader was Boldie at sv.wikipedia - Originally from sv.wikipedia; description page is/was here.. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Havsnejon%C3%B6ga.jpg#/media/File:Havsnejon%C3%B6ga.jpg
"Chinook salmon (Garden R) 1" by Fungus Guy - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chinook_salmon_(Garden_R)_1.JPG#/media/File:Chinook_salmon_(Garden_R)_1.JPG
"Petromyzon marinus" by Ellen Edmonson and Hugh Chrisp - http://pond.dnr.cornell.edu/nyfish/fish.html. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Petromyzon_marinus.jpg#/media/File:Petromyzon_marinus.jpg
"Lamproie Planer57" by Lamiot - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lamproie_Planer57.jpg#/media/File:Lamproie_Planer57.jpg
"Petromyzon-marinus2 FWS". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Petromyzon-marinus2_FWS.jpg#/media/File:Petromyzon-marinus2_FWS.jpg
"Havsnejonöga" by Original uploader was Boldie at sv.wikipedia - Originally from sv.wikipedia; description page is/was here.. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Havsnejon%C3%B6ga.jpg#/media/File:Havsnejon%C3%B6ga.jpg
"Chinook salmon (Garden R) 1" by Fungus Guy - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chinook_salmon_(Garden_R)_1.JPG#/media/File:Chinook_salmon_(Garden_R)_1.JPG
"Petromyzon marinus" by Ellen Edmonson and Hugh Chrisp - http://pond.dnr.cornell.edu/nyfish/fish.html. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Petromyzon_marinus.jpg#/media/File:Petromyzon_marinus.jpg
"Lamproie Planer57" by Lamiot - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lamproie_Planer57.jpg#/media/File:Lamproie_Planer57.jpg
