European river lamprey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids European river lamprey |
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| European river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) in the Pirita, Estonia | |
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The European river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) is a special kind of fish. It's also called the river lamprey or lampern. These interesting creatures are a type of lamprey that lives in freshwater.
Contents
What Does a River Lamprey Look Like?
Adult river lampreys can be 25 to 40 cm (10 to 16 in) long if they live in the sea. Those that live only in lakes are a bit smaller, up to 28 cm (11 in). Their bodies are long and thin. They are usually dark grey on top, lighter on the sides, and white underneath.
Like all lampreys, they don't have regular fins in pairs. Instead of jaws, they have a round, sucking mouth. They have one nostril and seven small gill slits on each side behind their eyes. Their teeth are sharp. You can tell them apart from the smaller brook lamprey because their two dorsal fins are further apart.
Where Do River Lampreys Live?
The European river lamprey lives in coastal waters all around Europe. You can find them from the north-west Mediterranean Sea up to the lakes in Finland, Scotland, Norway, and Russia. They even live in rivers in the Alps. In Nakkila, Finland, these lampreys are a traditional food!
For a while, in 1996, they were considered "near threatened" because their numbers were dropping. But since 2008, they are now listed as "least concern". This means their populations have recovered after pollution problems in central and western Europe. However, in the Baltic Sea region, they are still considered Near Threatened. Sadly, in August 2018, Spain announced that the river lamprey is officially gone from its waters.
What Do River Lampreys Eat?
River lampreys are a bit like parasites. They attach themselves to other fish using their sucking mouth. Then, they use their sharp teeth to gently scrape at the fish's skin or gills to feed.
River Lamprey Family Tree
River lampreys are very closely related to the brook lamprey. Scientists think they are a "paired species". This means the river lamprey is the form that goes to the sea, while the brook lamprey stays in freshwater. Scientists are still studying this to learn more!
River Lamprey Life Cycle
The European river lamprey has a life cycle similar to that of salmon. They travel upstream from the sea into rivers during autumn and winter to find places to lay their eggs. They lay most of their eggs in the springtime, just like brook lampreys. After laying their eggs, the adult lampreys die.
The young lampreys are called ammocoetes. They live in soft mud for several years. Then, they change into adults and swim to the sea. It's believed that they spend about two to three years in the ocean before returning to the rivers to lay their own eggs.
Interesting Facts and Figures
- It's hard to tell young ammocoetes apart from brook lamprey ammocoetes because they look so similar.
- Adult river lampreys are usually about 30 cm (12 in) long. Some can be smaller, around 20 cm (8 in). They are always bigger than adult brook lampreys, which are only 12 to 14 cm (5 to 6 in) long.
- They usually weigh about 150 g (5 oz).
- Their maximum life span is about 10 years.
Images for kids
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Mouth of a river lamprey
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Top view of a river lamprey
See also
