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Petromyzontiformes (Lampreys) >
Petromyzontidae (Northern lampreys) > Lampetrinae
Etymology: Lethenteron: Etymology not explained, perhaps lethalis (L.), lethal, or lethe (Gr.), forgetting or forgetfulness; enteron (Gr.) intestine, presumably referring to “degenerate and non-functional” intestine of adult L. appendix. (See ETYFish); reissneri: Patronym not identified, possibly in honor of Baltic German anatomist Ernst Reissner (1824-1878). (See ETYFish).
More on author: Dybowski.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Temperate
Artic and Pacific Ocean drainages: In Europe in Umbra (Kola Peninsula), Severnaya Dvina, Mezen and upper Pechora drainages. In Asia eastward to Andyr drainage (Bering Sea); Amur drainage; Sakhalin Island, Hokkaido (Japan).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 19.3, range 13 - 26 cm
Max length : 26.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59043); common length : 18.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 56557); max. reported age: 4 years (Ref. 12218)
Body dark brown on back and white on belly; 7 external gill openings behind eyes; single nostril opening in front of both eyes; myotomes from last gill aperture to origin of anal fin 58-64 (Ref. 45563). Diagnostic features of adults: 11.1-20.2 cm TL. Body proportions, as percentage of TL (based on 19 specimens measuring 11.6-17.2 cm TL): prebranchial length, 10.3-12.3; branchial length, 9.5-13.3; trunk length, 46.0-54.2; tail length, 25.0-31.6; eye length, 1.2-2.4; disc length, 4.7-6.4. Urogenital papilla length, as a percentage of branchial length, in three spawning males measuring 14.3-15.4 cm TL, 16.4-67.8 (based on 21 spawning males 11.1-15.4 cm TL). Trunk myomeres, 57-65. Dentition: supraoral lamina, 2 unicuspid teeth; infraoral lamina, 6-11 unicuspid teeth; 3 endolaterals on each side; endolateral formula, typically 2-2-2; 1-2 rows of anterials; first row of anterials, 4-5 unicuspid teeth; total number of anterials, 38-44 unicuspid teeth; usually one exolateral present on one or both sides, exceptionally, one complete row of exolaterals on each side; single row of posterials consisting of 19-27 unicuspid teeth; transverse lingual lamina, 13 unicuspid teeth, the median one greatly enlarged; longitudinal lingual laminae each with 7-8 unicuspid teeth. Velar tentacles, 7, with tubercles, the median tentacle shorter than the lateral ones immediately next to it. Lateral line neuromasts unpigmented. Gular region unpigmented. Second dorsal fin unpigmented. Extent of caudal fin pigmentation, 1% to <25% (33%) or, 75% or more (67%). Caudal fin shape, spade-like (Ref. 89241).
Freshwater. Occurs in rivers, brooks, ponds, and lakes (Ref. 89241). Inhabits all types of rivers and streams, including brackish waters and enters floodplain meadows during high waters. Ammocoetes occur in detritus-rich sands or clay sediments (Ref. 59043). Parasitic; semelparous (Ref. 12218). Adults nonparasitic (Ref. 89241). Spawns in shallow water on sand-gravel bottom (Ref. 59043). Spawning period in Japan is from mid to late May. Fecundity, 495-2,942 eggs/female in Japan, with the long diameter of eggs varying from 0.98 to 1.37 mm and the short diameter from 0.86 to 1.25 mm (Ref. 89241).
Kottelat, M. and J. Freyhof, 2007. Handbook of European freshwater fishes. Publications Kottelat, Cornol and Freyhof, Berlin. 646 pp. (Ref. 59043)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5039 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00129 (0.00077 - 0.00215), b=2.92 (2.77 - 3.07), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.1 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Semelparous species, assuming tm (= tmax) > 4).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (16 of 100).
