Sea Lamprey
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Name and Code
Family
Petromyzontidae - lampreys
Species
Petromyzon marinus
Taxonomic Authority
Linnaeus 1758
Common Name(s)
Sea Lamprey
French Name
lamproie marine
Species Code
014
Family TSN
159697
Parent TSN
159721
Species TSN
159722
Conservation Status
Global Rank (GRank)
G5 (2016-05-10)
National Rank (NRank)
N5B, N5N, N5M (2017-12-27)
Provincial Rank (SRank)
SNA (1988-11-22)
COSEWIC Status
none
SARO Status
none
AFS Status
none
Status Notes
none
Ecological Value
Ontario Origin
native/introduced
General Abundance
common
Tolerance
intermediate
Economic Importance
invasive species
Length-Weight Regression Coefficents
Intercept (a)
-4.7025
Slope (b)
2.6313
Length Basis
TL
Habitat and Feeding
General Habitat(s)
lacustrine; marine1
Environment
benthopelagic
Trophic Class
herbivore/detritivore (carnivore)
Thermal Regime
coolwater
Habitat Preference
feeding adults in open waters of lakes and large rivers; ammocoetes inhabit flowing areas of streams, burrowing in sandy silt substrates; preferred water temperature range 6-15°C
Reproduction
Reproductive Guild
Nonguarders: Brood hiders: Lithophils
Spawning Habitat(s)
riverine
Spawning Season
spring
Spawning Month(s)
May-June
Spawning Temperature (°C)
11-24
Fecundity
13,974-107,138
Nursery Habitat(s)
riverine
Size and Age
Adult Length (cm)
30.2-58.1 TL
Adult Weight (kg)
0.07-0.37
Age at Maturity (yrs)
3-7
Maximum Length (cm)
120 TL
Maximum Weight (kg)
2.3
Lifespan (yrs)
5-9
Ontario Records
Record Length (cm)
58.3 TL
Record Weight (kg)
none
Ontario Range Map
Sea Lamprey range
Ontario Distribution
Great Lakes and tributaries; native to Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River, access to upper Great Lakes enabled via the Welland Canal
Photographs
Sea Lamprey photograph
Sea Lamprey photograph
Notes
(1) anadromous life-strategy within native range; indigenous to Atlantic coast; adults parasitic and semelparous; prey includes whitefish and trout
Information Sources
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