Sea Lamprey

Petromyzon marinus

Lampreys are among the oldest fishes on earth. These long, eel-shaped fishes survive by feeding off the blood of other fishes. They have mouths like suction cups, which they use to attach themselves to other fishes. With the teeth on their tongues, they scrape a hole in their victim's skin and feed. Sea Lampreys live in salt water but spawn in freshwater streams where they build nests of pebbles. After spawning, the adults die. The young lampreys swim downstream and bury themselves in the mud, where they live for several years. As they transform into adults, they develop eyes and teeth and become parasites.

Look For : An eel-shaped lamprey with 7 pairs of round gill openings, suckerlike mouth, and 2 separate dorsal fins. Males gray with orange splotches and fatty ridge in front of dorsal fins.

Length : 24".

Habitat : Adults in open ocean; larvae in mud. Spawns in freshwater streams with gravel bottoms.

Range : Atlantic from Gulf of St. Lawrence south to northern Florida and associated streams; Great Lakes.