Pacific lamprey

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Pacific lamprey
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Cephalaspidomorphi Order: Petromyzontiformes Family: Petromyzontidae Genus: Lampetra Species: L. tridentata
Binomial name
Lampetra tridentata (Richardson, 1836)

The Pacific lamprey, Lampetra tridentata, also known as three tooth lamprey and tridentate lamprey, lives along the Pacific Coast of North America and Asia. They are dark blue or brown in color and grow to about 30 inches (76 cm). They are anadromous meaning they are born in freshwater, swim out to ocean as an adult, and return to the freshwater to reproduce. Lamprey juveniles (ammocoetes) live in fresh water for several years (up to 5 or 6 years). Juveniles are filter feeders. Adults have a jawless sucker-like mouth and are parasitic on other fish while in the ocean. The adults live at least 1-2 years in the ocean and then return to freshwater to spawn. It is not well understood if Pacific lamprey return to their natal streams or seek spawning areas based on other cues. They typically spawn in similar habitat to Pacific salmon and trout. Lamprey construct a nest (redd) in small gravel and females can lay over 100,000 eggs, which are fertilized externally by the male. The adults die within 4 days of spawning. Also like the salmon, the Pacific Lamprey does not feed while migrating to spawn.

Pacific Lamprey are an important ceremonial food for Native American tribes in the Columbia River basin. Pacific Lamprey numbers in the Columbia River have greatly declined with the construction of the Columbia River hydro-power system. Almost no harvest oportunity for Native Americans remains in the Columbia River and its tributaries except for a small annual harvest at Willamette Falls on the Willamette River (tributary to the Columbia River).

[edit] External links

• Lamprey facts