Petromyzonti (lampreys) >
Petromyzontiformes (Lampreys) >
Petromyzontidae (Northern lampreys) > Petromyzontinae
Etymology: Ichthyomyzon: ichthys, fish; myzon (Gr.), to suck (borrowed from Petromyzon), i.e., a sucking fish, referring to their suctorial behavior (See ETYFish); bdellium: -ium, Latin adjectival suffix: bdella (Gr.) leech, referring to its leech-like suctorial and/or parasitic feeding behavior (as adults) (See ETYFish).
More on author: Jordan.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Temperate; 43°N - 34°N
North America: Ohio River basin from extreme southwestern New York west to northern Indiana and eastern Illinois and south to northern Alabama in USA.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5723); 30.5 cm TL (female); common length : 19.2 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193); max. reported age: 1.00 years (Ref. 12193)
Distinguished by the following characters: oral disc as wide or wider than head; teeth sharp and well developed; usually 56-62 trunk myomeres; black on lateral-line pores; one slightly notched dorsal fin (Ref. 86798). Other diagnostic features: 11.7-27.9 cm TL. Body proportions, as percentage of TL (based on 51 specimens measuring 12.5-25.9 cm TL): prebranchial length, 10.4-14.0; branchial length, 7.6-10.7; trunk length, 47.3-54.3; tail length, 21.4-31.2; eye length, 0.6-1.8; disc length, 6.2-9.5. The urogenital papilla length, as a percentage of branchial length, in 10 spawning males measuring 11.7-24.7 cm TL, 8.7-16.0. Trunk myomeres, 53-62. Dentition: supraoral lamina, 2-3 teeth (if 3, the median one shortest); infraoral lamina, 5-11 teeth; typically 4 endolateral teeth on each side, but 5 teeth also occur; 7-10, mode of 8, bicuspid endolaterals in total, the other endolaterals, if any, unicuspid; 3-4 rows of anterials, usually 3; first row of anterials, 3 teeth, all unicuspid; 4-8 rows of exolaterals on each side, usually 6; 2 rows of posterials; first row of posterials, 8-9, all unicuspid; transverse lingual lamina moderately to strongly w-shaped, with numerous cusps; longitudinal lingual laminae, number of teeth unrecorded. Velar tentacles, 2-3, smooth. Body coloration (live), slate gray dorsal aspect and silvery gray lateral and ventral aspects. Lateral line neuromasts darkly pigmented, although they may be unpigmented in recently transformed adults. Caudal fin pigmentation, 75% or more. Caudal fin shape, rounded. Oral fimbriae, 103-144. Oral papillae, 20-32 (Ref. 89241).
Inhabit smaller, more upland rivers, and less encountered in reservoirs (Ref. 10294). Freshwater. Ammocoetes and spawning adults inhabit brooks and small rivers, while feeding adults inhabit medium-sized to large rivers (Ref.89241). Ammocoete larvae live near debris in muddy pools and backwaters. Known to parasitize suckers (Ref. 10294).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p. (Ref. 5723)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
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