Arctic lamprey (Lethenteron camtschaticum) fish species and information / pictures of Arctic lamprey - Lethenteron camtschaticum

Arctic lamprey (Lethenteron camtschaticum) fish species information

Scientific Name
Lethenteron camtschaticum

Common Name
Arctic lamprey

Biology
Adults inhabits coastal and estuarine waters (Ref. 59043). Prefer sites with stony or sandy bottom, shaded by riparian vegetation (Ref. 41072). Spawning adults found in gravel riffles and runs of clear streams; feeding adults usually in oceans or lakes; ammocoetes in muddy margins and backwaters of river and lakes (Ref. 5723). Anadromous (Ref. 58426). There are non-migratory freshwater populations. Probably parasitizes any species of fish of suitable size (Ref. 27547), including commercial species (Ref. 58426). Subadults are non-parasitic (Ref. 12218). Feed on small aquatic invertebrates, algae and organic matter contained in detritus (Ref. 41072). Arctic lamprey has high quality flesh rich in fat (Ref. 41072).

Classification

Classified By

Tilesius, 1811

Class

Lampreys (Cephalaspidomorphi)

Order

Lampreys (Petromyzontiformes)

Family

Lampreys (Petromyzontidae)

Distribution

Region

Arctic

Distribution

Arctic: Siberian coast to Anderson River in Canada. Northwest Pacific: Bering Sea south to Japan and Korea. Freshwater resident populations in Slave, Hay and Mackenzie rivers, Northern Territories, Canada. Freshwater non-migratory stocks in river systems in Mongolia (Ref. 41072). Europe: Arctic, White and Barents Sea basins of Russia and Norway, from Pechora drainage in Russia to Pasvik drainage in Norwegian-Russian border (Ref. 59043). In danger of local extinctions due to pollution and use as bait (Ref. 12321).

Range

71°N - 34°N

Environment

Climate

Polar

Water Temperature From

5 °C

Water Temperature To

18 °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

50 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; anadromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 50 m (Ref. 50610)

Trophic Level

4.5 s.e. 0.81 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

63.0 cm

Common Length

16.1 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5312 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; bait: usually

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (55 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm 4-5)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)