Petromyzonti (lampreys) >
Petromyzontiformes (Lampreys) >
Petromyzontidae (Northern lampreys) > Lampetrinae
Etymology: Lampetra: lambo (L.), to lick; petra (Gr.), rock or stone, referring to their suctorial behavior (adults attach to rocks during nest building and mating). (See ETYFish); hubbsi: In honor of American ichthyologist Carl L. Hubbs (1894-1979), “distinguished friend and a keen student of lamprey taxonomy” [placed in Entosphenus by some workers]. (See ETYFish).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; non-migratory. Temperate; 38°N - 36°N
North America: East side of San Joaquin Valley in lower Merced, Kaweah, Kings, and San Joaquin rivers in California, USA.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 14.2 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 89241); common length : 12.9 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Characterized by having expanded oral disc narrower than head, usually 52-56 trunk myomeres, 2 supraoral teeth, usually 1-1-1-1 lateral circumoral teeth, 9-12 unicuspid posterior circumoral teeth, 5 infraoral teeth and coloration consisting of gray to brown above, white below, black specks on dorsal and caudal fins, and no black on lateral-line pores (Ref. 86798). Adults: 8.1-14.2 cm TL; body proportions (percentage of TL based on 127 specimens 8.1-14.2 cm TL): 7.8-14.4 prebranchial length, 8.5-12.8 branchial length, 44.6-56.9 trunk length, 24.3-30.8 tail length, 0.8-2.8 eye length and 3.7-8.7 disc length, 8.3-16.7 urogenital papilla length (percentage of branchial length in 9 spawning males 10.6-12.4 cm TL); trunk myomeres, 50-57. Adult dentition: supraoral lamina, 2 unicuspid teeth, rarely 3; infraoral lamina, 4-unicuspid teeth, usually 5; 4 endolaterals on each side, rarely 3; endolateral formula, typically 1-1-1-1, the first endolateral may also be bicuspid, the second and third endolaterals bi- or tricuspid, and the fourth bicuspid, however, no endolateral formula of 2-3-3-2 was encountered in 40 individuals examined; 2 row of anterials, 3-9 unicuspid teeth in total, three of these in the first row; exolaterals absent; 1 row of posterials, 8-12 unicuspid teeth in a continuous (complete) row or discontinuous (incomplete) row of only six unicuspid teeth; transverse lingual lamina, cusps too poorly developed to count, however, the median one not enlarged; longitudinal lingual laminae, cusps too poorly developed to count. Velar tentacles in adults, 3-5, with tubercles; median velar tentacle shorter than the lateral ones immediately next to it; no velar wings; body coloration (preserved), gray-brown on dorsal and lateral aspects, whitish on ventral aspect; extent of caudal fin pigmentation, 1% to <25%; caudal fin shape, rounded (Ref. 89241).
Inhabits silty backwaters of rivers and spawns in gravel riffles (Ref. 86798). Both the larval and adult stages were originally collected from the Friant-Kern Canal, which is 85% concrete lined and has a discharge greater than 57 m3/sec; an artificial habitat. Occurs in the Merced River, which should be considered typical habitat. Adults nonparasitic (Ref. 89241).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p. (Ref. 5723)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5002 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00126 (0.00056 - 0.00284), b=2.99 (2.80 - 3.18), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.7 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Semelparous species, assuming tm (= tmax) > 4).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
