European River Lamprey [Lampetra fluviatilis]
Description
The European River Lamprey is a species of lamprey that can be found in the rivers of Europe, from the Iberian Peninsula to the British Isles and Scandinavia. These species are known to spawn in fresh water and then migrate to the sea to mature. They are characterized by their eel-like bodies, large oral disc, and the absence of paired fins. They are parasitic, attaching themselves to fish with their sucker-like mouths to feed off their host's blood and body fluids.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Lampreys
Petromyzontida
|
| Order |
Northern Lampreys
Petromyzontiformes
|
| Family |
Northern Lampreys
Petromyzontidae
|
| Genus |
European River Lamprey
Lampetra
|