Arctic Lamprey [Lethenteron camtschaticum]
Description
The Arctic Lamprey, scientifically known as Lethenteron camtschaticum, is a jawless fish species belonging to the Petromyzontidae family. Generally, they measure about 15-40 cm in length. They have a slender and elongated body that is dark blue or brown on the dorsal side and lighter on the ventral side. Arctic Lampreys are anadromous, meaning they spawn in freshwater environments but spend most of their adult life in the sea. They are parasitic during their marine phase, attaching to and feeding on the blood and body fluids of host fish. The species is distributed across the Arctic and Pacific drainages from Mezen River in Russia to Alaska and British Columbia.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Lampreys
Petromyzontida
|
| Order |
Northern Lampreys
Petromyzontiformes
|
| Family |
Northern Lampreys
Petromyzontidae
|
| Genus |
Arctic Lamprey
Lethenteron
|