Species group · Lampreys

Lampreys

WAnimals has 2 species of lamprey, all in the family Petromyzontidae.

2 species
1 family
22 countries
64 parks
Weight
50 g – 1.4 kg
Length
32 cm – 90 cm
Lifespan
6 – 8 years

Ranges calculated from the entries that record the figure, not from all 2.

All 2 species of lampreys on WAnimals

Each one has its own full entry. This group does not replace them: it brings them together.

Conservation status

2 Least Concern

No species documented in this group is genuinely at risk according to the IUCN, with the data available today.

See the global conservation status

Where they live

Recorded in 22 countries. The ones with the most species in the group:

Where to see them

Did you know…

  • It drove at least 3 native fish species in the Great Lakes to extinction after it was introduced.

    From Sea Lamprey

  • It fastens onto other fish with its sucker mouth to feed on blood and body fluids.

    From Sea Lamprey

  • It is semelparous: it dies shortly after spawning, which it does only once in its life.

    From Sea Lamprey

  • It has no true jaws at all, making it one of the most primitive living vertebrates.

    From River Lamprey

  • The male coils around the female with his sucker mouth during spawning.

    From River Lamprey

  • Its blind larvae (ammocoetes) live buried in the sediment for years.

    From River Lamprey

Ecosystems

See every species group · Explore the species one by one