Sea Lamprey [Petromyzon marinus]
Description
The Sea Lamprey is an eel-like parasitic fish native to the Northern Hemisphere. It is characterized by a round, sucker-like mouth filled with small, sharp teeth, and seven gill openings on each side of the body. Adult sea lampreys can grow to about 1.2 meters (3.9 ft) in length. It is a parasitic species that attaches itself to other fish to feed on their blood and body fluids. They inhabit coastal and fresh waters and have detrimental effects on fish populations in the Great Lakes.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Lampreys
Petromyzontida
|
| Order |
Northern Lampreys
Petromyzontiformes
|
| Family |
Northern Lampreys
Petromyzontidae
|
| Genus |
Sea Lamprey
Petromyzon
|