Sea Lamprey facts and information:Latin name: Petromyzon marinus
Average lifespan: about 1 to 2 years in the ocean.
Size: 12-20 inches long
Sea lampreys are members of an ancient family of "jawless fishes" that were around before the time of the dinosaurs. The sea lamprey was first discovered in 1835. Sea lampreys are aquatic vertebrates native to the Atlantic Ocean. Sea lampreys resemble eels, but unlike eels, they feed on large fish.
Sea Lamprey video.
What does a Sea Lamprey look like?Sea lampreys are members of an ancient family of "jawless fishes" that were around before the time of the dinosaurs. They are 12-20 inches long and eel-like. They have dark brown to black backs and light yellow to pale brown bellies. Look for a feathery fin from their midsection down and under the tail. Their mouth is circular with circular rows of teeth. They have large reddish eyes.
Where do Sea Lamprey live?Coastal regions of Atlantic Ocean. Locally found on east coast of United States and Canada.
What does a Sea Lamprey eat?One sea lamprey can upset an ecosystem and food chain by eating an estimated 40 pounds of fish or more in its lifetime. Multiply that times 22,000 lamprey found in just one river and you have a lot of dead fish. Because of lower large fish populations, small fish, like the alewife, were able to increase in numbers. Alewives are also invader species which compete with native fish for food and habitat.
Sea Lamprey images
Sea Lamprey WallpapersDownload free Sea Lamprey wallpapers, click on the image to open the large version.
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Sea Lamprey Coloring pagesPrint free Sea Lamprey coloring pages, click on the image to open the large version.
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