Classification / Names
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Petromyzonti (lampreys) >
Petromyzontiformes (Lampreys) >
Petromyzontidae (Northern lampreys) > Lampetrinae
Etymology: Entosphenus: entos (Gr.), within; sphenos (Gr.), wedge, referring to wedge-shaped tooth within mouth on tongue of E. tridentatus. (See ETYFish); lethophagus: lethe (Gr.), forgetting or forgetfulness; phagein (Gr.), to eat, i.e., not eating (an adjective), referring to adults, which do not eat before they spawn and die. (See ETYFish).
More on author: Hubbs.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; non-migratory. Temperate; 43°N - 41°N
North America: Klamath River in south central Oregon (rare) and Pit River in northeastern California, USA.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 22.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5723); common length : 14.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Adults: 12.4-18.4 cm TL. Adult body proportions, as percentage of TL (based on ten specimens 12.6-18.4 cm TL): prebranchial length, 8.2-13.3; branchial length, 8.4-10.8; trunk length, 43.4-51.6; tail length, 28.8-35.3; eye length, 1.6-3.2; disc length, 4.1-6.1; urogenital papilla length, 16.0 (percentage of branchial length in a spawning male measuring 12.9 cm TL); trunk myomeres, 58-73. Adult dentition: supraoral lamina, 2-3 unicuspid teeth, usually 3; infraoral lamina, 5-7 unicuspid teeth; 4 endolaterals on each side; endolateral formula, typically 2-2-2-2 or 2-3-3-2, the first and fourth endolaterals may also rarely be unicuspid; 2-3 rows of anterials; first row of anterials, 1 or 5 unicuspid teeth; exolaterals absent; 1 row of posterials with 10-17 teeth, of which 0-12 are bicuspid and the rest unicuspid; transverse lingual lamina, 15-20 unicuspid teeth, the median one slightly enlarged; longitudinal lingual laminae each with undetermined number of unicuspid teeth. Velar tentacles in adults, 5-12, with tubercles; median tentacle shorter than the lateral ones immediately next to it; body coloration (preserved), ventral aspect whitish; oral papillae, 5-26 (Ref. 89241).
Inhabits riffles and runs of clear streams. Ammocoetes larvae occur near weed beds and sand bars. Non-parasitic (Ref. 5723). Freshwater; adults from Crooked Creek, Oregon are sexually mature in mid-March (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 = 0.5156 [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): 4.1 ±0.7 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 (12 of 100).