Chestnut Lamprey
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Name and Code
Family
Petromyzontidae - lampreys
Species
Ichthyomyzon castaneus
Taxonomic Authority
Girard 1858
Common Name(s)
Chestnut Lamprey
French Name
lamproie brune
Species Code
016
Family TSN
159697
Parent TSN
159723
Species TSN
159725
Conservation Status
Global Rank (GRank)
G4 (2016-04-17)
National Rank (NRank)
NU (2017-12-27)
Provincial Rank (SRank)
SU1, S1?2 (2018-03-28)
COSEWIC Status
Data Deficient (Nov 2010)
SARO Status
Data Deficient
AFS Status
none
Status Notes
(1) Great Lakes-Upper St. Lawrence populations; (2) Saskatchewan-Nelson River populations
Ecological Value
Ontario Origin
native
General Abundance
rare
Tolerance
intermediate
Economic Importance
none
Length-Weight Regression Coefficents
Intercept (a)
-6.2361
Slope (b)
3.2147
Length Basis
TL
Habitat and Feeding
General Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Environment
benthic
Trophic Class
herbivore (carnivore)
Thermal Regime
coolwater
Habitat Preference
large creeks and main channels of small- to medium-sized rivers; ammocoetes inhabit sand- and silt-bottomed pools and backwaters
Reproduction
Reproductive Guild
Nonguarders: Brood hiders: Lithophils
Spawning Habitat(s)
riverine
Spawning Season
spring
Spawning Month(s)
May-June
Spawning Temperature (°C)
16-22
Fecundity
10,144-42,000
Nursery Habitat(s)
riverine
Size and Age
Adult Length (cm)
17.8-31.0 TL
Adult Weight (kg)
0.01-0.06
Age at Maturity (yrs)
5-7
Maximum Length (cm)
38.0 TL
Maximum Weight (kg)
no data
Lifespan (yrs)
7-9
Ontario Records
Record Length (cm)
22.4 TL
Record Weight (kg)
none
Ontario Range Map
Chestnut Lamprey range
Ontario Distribution
St. Lawrence River, Mad River (Lake Huron tributary), Chippewa River (Lake Superior tributary), Lake-of-the-Woods, Detroit River
Photographs
Chestnut Lamprey photograph
Chestnut Lamprey photograph
Notes
sensitive to siltation and pollution; prey includes sturgeon, pike and suckers
Information Sources
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Lanteigne, J. 1992. Status of the Chestnut Lamprey, Ichthyomyzon castaneus, in Canada. Can. Field-Nat. 106(1):14-18.
Lee, D.S., C.R. Gilbert, C.H. Hocutt, R.E. Jenkins, D.E. McAllister, and J.R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History Publication 1980-12. Raleigh, NC. x + 867 pp.
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