# Lamprey (*Petromyzon marinus*) Lampreys are unique fish with long, slimy bodies and round mouths filled with sharp teeth. They don't have jaws like most fish and are excellent swimmers in rivers and oceans. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Freshwater, Coastal areas - **Also known as:** Eel, Landlocked Lamprey, Sea Lamprey ![Lamprey](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425928/objects/6196.jpg) ## Appearance The Lamprey is an eel-shaped, jawless fish, typically grey, brown, or olive, with a distinctive round, tooth-lined suction mouth. It has a single nostril on top of its head and lacks paired fins, distinguishing it from most true fish. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Hyperoartia - **Order:** Petromyzontiformes - **Family:** Petromyzontidae - **Genus:** Petromyzon ## Interesting facts - Baby lampreys hide in riverbeds for years, filtering tiny food instead of hunting! - Lampreys don't have bones! Their skeletons are made of cartilage, just like sharks. - Lampreys have seven small gill openings on each side, looking like tiny holes! - Some adult lampreys don't eat! They use stored energy to migrate and lay eggs. ## Special abilities - **Vacuum Vortex:** Lamprey can attach firmly to surfaces and other fish using its powerful suction disc mouth, helping them feed or hold against currents. - **Blood Sucker's Secret:** Lamprey injects an anticoagulant into its prey, allowing continuous feeding because it prevents blood from clotting. - **Rasping Tongue:** Lamprey has a specialized rasping tongue covered in horny teeth that helps them scrape flesh and consume blood from their hosts. - **River Navigator:** Lamprey can navigate vast distances between saltwater and freshwater using its strong sense of smell to find ancestral spawning grounds. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-100 cm - **Weight:** 0.05-2.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-10 years - **Swim Speed:** 25 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 200 m - **Water Type:** Brackish ## Diet & Feeding Adult parasitic lampreys drink blood from fish, while young ones filter tiny bits from water. - **Age differences:** Larval lampreys (ammocoetes) are filter-feeders, consuming detritus and microorganisms. Parasitic adults feed on fish, while non-parasitic adults do not eat. - **Primary Foods:** Fish blood, Fish bodily fluids, Fish flesh - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Parasitizes:** [Atlantic Salmon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/atlantic-salmon) (*Salmo salar*) — Attaches to feed on blood and fluids. - **Parasitizes:** [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) — Feeds on fluids, can injure or weaken trout. - **Eaten by:** European Otter (*Lutra lutra*) — Otters prey on lampreys during migration. - **Eaten by:** [Grey Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/grey-heron) (*Ardea cinerea*) — Herons catch migrating lampreys in shallow waters. ## Traits - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Regenerative](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/regenerative): Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Parasitic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/parasitic): This trait describes organisms that live on or in a host organism, obtaining nutrients at the host's expense. - [Vampiric](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/vampiric): Vampiric organisms are those that obtain nutrients by feeding on the blood or bodily fluids of other animals. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Venomous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/venomous): Venomous organisms produce toxins that are injected into another animal, typically through a bite or sting. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Avoid touching lampreys in the wild as they have sharp teeth and may bite if threatened. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Lamprey? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Lamprey? 15-100 cm ### How much does Lamprey weigh? 0.05-2.5 kg ### How long does Lamprey live? 3-10 years ### What does Lamprey eat? Adult parasitic lampreys drink blood from fish, while young ones filter tiny bits from water. ### How fast can Lamprey swim? 25 km/h ### Where is Lamprey usually found? Freshwater, Coastal areas ### How does Lamprey hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Waikiki Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/waikiki-aquarium) — Hawaii, US · Zoo - [Middle Haddam Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/middle-haddam-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Lamprey: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lamprey)