Name

Petromyzon

sea lamprey

Framing

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Petromyzonti

Order: Petromyzontiformes

Genus: Petromyzon

Habitat

Aquatic, amphidromous cycle (anadromous). Necto-benthic.

Feeding

Free. Solitary. Haematophagous ectoparasite/predator of adult fish. Starts by sucking blood often causing very big wounds, also death and even devouring the fish. Larvae (ammocetes) are filter feeders.

Distribution

North Atlantic including both shores and Mediterranean Sea.

Conservation status

Endangered (EN) in Andalusia, vulnerable to extinction (VU) in Spain, although not globally threatened.

Additional information

Jawless fish up to one metre long, with anguilliform body and no paired fins. Mouth with a sucker and provided with concentric rows of horny teeth. Skin without scales. They can live for more than 18 years.