Silver lamprey
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| Ichthyomyzon unicuspis Hubbs and Trautman, 1937 |
Ichthyomyzon unicuspis or the Silver Lamprey is a lamprey found commonly in the Noth-central United States and a large part of southern Canada its binomial name means "fish to suck" in greek and "one Point" in latin. The silver lamprey are reoprted to reach inches when first transformed and between 14 and 15 inches at maturity.
[edit] Identification
Aside from the obvious Lamprey characteristics ( lack of jaw, pectoral fins ect.) the dorsal fin may be notched slightly but not divided into two separte parts, all the teeth are well developed and the mouth, when expanded is wider than the head. the teeht in the lamprey's inner circle are single pointed and there are usually 49 to 52 bands of muscle between the last gill pening and the vent. Larvae and young adults are said to be a yellow-tan with black on either side. Adults, when ready to spawn change colors to blue or blue-gray by the time they are finished spawning they are nearly black.
[edit] References
- Fishes of Missouri. Pflieger, William L. 55.
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