Lamprey — printable fact sheet

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Lamprey

Petromyzon marinus

The lamprey is a jawless fish known for its eel-like body and distinctive, circular, sucker-like mouth lined with rows of sharp teeth. Lampreys are ancient vertebrates, having remained relatively unchanged for over 360 million years. They are mostly found in coastal and freshwat…

Classification

Fish

Family

Petromyzontidae

Habitat

Freshwater rivers and streams, occasionally coastal marine environments

Diet

Carnivore

Conservation status

Least Concern

Lifespan

6-8 years

Weight

0.1–2.5 kg

Scientific name

Petromyzon marinus

Did you know?

Lampreys are among the few vertebrates that can regenerate spinal cord tissue after injury.
Lampreys have no true jaws or bones, only cartilage. Their mouths form a suction cup, allowing them to attach to other fish. Some lamprey species are non-parasitic and do not feed at all as adults.

What I learned

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