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River Lamprey, Lampern

Lampetra fluviatilis (Linnaeus 1758)

Biology

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Although some populations exist where the entire life cycle takes place in freshwater, generally the river lamprey is anadromous; the adults migrate to the sea and return to freshwater to spawn. Upon reaching a suitable breeding area, a male wriggles around and creates a depression on the riverbed. He then attaches to the back of a female's head with his mouth and wraps around her body. The eggs are deposited, fertilised externally and covered with sand, a succession of males are involved and one female can lay up to 25,000 eggs in this way (6). After spawning the adults die. The blind juveniles hatch and then spend four to six years buried in the substrate, filtering organic particles from the water (6). After they mature the adults travel to the sea where they live for about 2 summers before returning to spawn. Whilst at sea, they feed on fish flesh and bodily fluids by attaching to small fishes with the sucking mouth and rasping away at the flesh (4). Roman, Viking and Medieval Britons regarded river and sea lampreys as delicacies (7).
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Conservation

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The strong UK populations are internationally important, and their protection is fundamental if the species is to be conserved in the EC (5). A number of areas have been proposed as candidate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). The areas chosen support strong populations and reflect the geographical range of the river lamprey in the UK as well as the range of habitat features required by the species (5). Although this should help to improve the conservation status of this primitive fish in the UK, it has been noted that further measures will be required to maintain the species (5). Draft Action Plans have been produced for the three lamprey species found in the UK in order to guide their conservation (2). Furthermore, the Life in UK Rivers Project is helping to conserve this species.
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Description

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Lampreys are some of the most primitive vertebrates alive today. They are known as cyclostomes, which means 'round mouths' and refers to the fact that they are jawless, having instead a round sucker-like mouth. A further primitive characteristic is that the skeleton consists of cartilage and not bone (2). Lampreys are similar in shape to eels, and have a series of uncovered round gill openings (known as gill pores) on the sides of the head. The river lamprey can be distinguished from other lampreys as it has two separate dorsal (back) fins, and just a few teeth around the mouth. It is bluish grey or green on the back and sides (2) and the underside is white (4). The larval stages of different lampreys are very similar in appearance (2).
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Habitat

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Inhabits high quality rivers (5).
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Range

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In the UK the river lamprey has a wide distribution, and is known in many rivers south of the Great Glen, Scotland. Elsewhere the species is found in Western Europe from southern Norway to the western Mediterranean (5).
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Status

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Listed on Annex III of the Bern Convention, Annexes II and V of the EC Habitats Directive and Schedule 3 of the Conservation Regulations (1994) (3).
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Threats

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Pollution, river engineering works and changes in land use have impacted upon this species (2).
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Brief Summary

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Just like their cousin the sea lamprey, European river lampreys live off of the blood of other fish. However, they will also bite off entire pieces of meat from living or dead marine animals. In order to lay eggs, river lampreys migrate upriver. Their larvae remain living in the river bottom for several years. Only when reaching maturity does the river lamprey migrate to sea for a number of years.
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Diagnostic Description

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It is jawless with a round sucker-like mouth and has an outer circle of small teeth and an inner circle of large teeth (Ref. 88171). It has a typical eel-like shape with 2 dorsal fins and 7 gill openings behind the eye. It lacks paired fins. Young adults are uniformly greyish in colour. As it ages, the river lamprey becomes greenish-brown dorsally, golden yellow along the sides and white ventrally (Ref. 58137). In coastal waters of Germany, it can be confused with the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), which is distinguished by having its teeth arranged in many consecutive circular rows (Ref. 88171). Other diagnostic features: Adults 8.6-49.2 cm TL. Body wet weight in individuals 18.0-49.2 cm TL, 30-150 g. Body proportions, as percentage of TL (based on 48 specimens measuring 10.8-38.6 cm TL): prebranchial length, 10.0-12.9; branchial length, 7.9-11.3; trunk length, 46.2-54.3; tail length, 24.1-30.3; eye length, 1.4-3.1; disc length, 4.6-7.0. Urogenital papilla length, as a percentage of branchial length, in 19 spawning males measuring 19.7-28.3 cm TL, 15.9-37.5. Trunk myomeres, 58-66. Dentition: marginals, 70-95; supraoral lamina, 2 unicuspid teeth; infraoral lamina, 5-9 either all unicuspid teeth or, more frequently, the lateralmost are bicuspid and the internal ones unicuspid; 3 endolaterals on each side; endolateral formula, typically 2-3-2, rarely 1-3-2 or 2-3-1; 1-2 rows of anterials; first row of anterials, 4-7 unicuspid teeth; exolaterals absent; posterials absent; transverse lingual lamina, 8-18, usually 12-14, unicuspid laminae straight or parentheses-shaped and each with 9-13 unicuspid teeth. Marginal membrane present. Velar tentacles, 4-10, with tubercles; no velar wings. Body coloration in recently metamorphosed individuals silvery; in preserved upstream migrants, bluish brown or lead gray on the dorsal aspect tending towards silvery on the lateral aspects and whitish or yellowish on ventral aspect. Early upstream spawning migrants returning from the sea have a bronze sheen. Dorsal fins of maturing individuals may have a purplish tint. Iris is golden yellow. Body coloration in the landlocked population in Lake Ladoga is completely black. Lateral line neuromasts unpigmented or darkly pigmented. Extent of caudal fin pigmentation, absent or trace in young adults and 75% or more in spawning individuals. Caudal fin shape, spade-like. Oral fimbriae, 84-112. Oral papillae, 11-20 (Ref. 89241).
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Trophic Strategy

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Adults are hematophageous predators (Ref. 51442). They often inflict extensive damage on their hosts by rasping away large amounts of flesh from the back; they become bloated when feeding because the entire gut is full of blood and fish flesh (Ref. 1998). The ammocoetes larvae are microphageous and feed on diatoms and protozoans (Ref. 51442).
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Morphology

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Dorsal spines (total): 0; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 0
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Migration

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Anadromous. Fish that ascend rivers to spawn, as salmon and hilsa do. Sub-division of diadromous. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.
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Life Cycle

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Adults migrate from the sea to the rivers to spawn (Ref. 51442), ascending rivers at night, anytime between autumn and spring but this movement ceases when water temperature drops (Ref. 59043). During the early stages of its spawning migration, the river lamprey has been shown to be attracted to chemical odours given off by ammocoetes (Ref. 88188). Males reach the spawning grounds first and build nests at depths between 50-100 cm, which have a diameter of 20-40 cm and a height of 10 cm (Ref. 12285, 51442, 59043, 88186). The river lamprey forms spawning aggregations, often during sunny days, when water temperature rises above 9 °C (Ref. 59043). Females may spawn with up to 6 males on separate occasions. One nest is usually utilized by a single mating pair (Ref. 59043). Adults spawn only once in their lifetime and usually die within 2 weeks after spawning (Ref. 12285, 51442). Eggs hatch in 15-30 days (Ref. 88184). The ammocoetes live in the calm zones of the river until metamorphosis at about 13 cm length before migrating to the sea (Ref. 51442).
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Biology

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In fresh waters, in rivers, brooks, and lakes. Anadromous, but some populations are permanent freshwater residents (e.g. Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland (UK); Loch Lomond, Scotland (UK); lakes Ladoga and Onega, Russian Federation) (Ref. 89241). Amphihaline species (Ref. 51442). Metamorphosis takes place at a length of about 13 cm and they migrate to the sea (Ref. 51442). Most river lampreys live 4-7 years and reach 30-35 cm length (Ref. 88187). Females grow larger than males (Ref. 58137). Adults spend 1-2 years at sea, often along the coast or in estuaries (Ref. 59043). They live on hard bottoms or attached to larger fish like cod and herring (Ref. 88174). Adults are parasitic, feeding on fishes by sucking their blood and afterwards consuming the flesh (Ref. 1998). Adults predatory on marine fishes from the end of July to October. Trematodes and cestodes have been found in the intestine of prespawning adults at sea. (Ref. 89241). In autumn, adults commonly undergo reproductive migration from the sea to shallow middle or upper reaches of rivers and streams with strong currents (1.0-2.0 m/s in British rivers) and gravel bottoms (Ref. 51442, 59043, 88171). Spawning migration upriver (Vistula and Neman rivers) begins near the end of September in the Baltic Sea Basin. In tributaries to the Gulf of Finland (Narva, Neva, and Luga rivers), upstream spawning migrations occur twice yearly; once in summer-fall and once in spring. In the upper Rhine River, the spawning season is February to April; in England (UK) from April to May; and in the lower Neva River, Russian Federation, from early June to early July (Ref. 89241). During reproductive migration and reproduction, adults do not feed but instead utilize their lipid reserves (Ref. 30578) and are known to undergo a considerable shortening of up to 27 per cent (Ref. 83507). Fecundity is highly variable and ranges from 650 to 42,500 eggs/female; 10,000-16,000 eggs/female in Lake Ladoga. Communal spawning in the same redd by L. fluviatilis and L. planeri has been reported in the River Tywi Basin, Wales (UK), in April, at a water temperature of 11 °C. Both species participated in constructing a redd about 23 cm in diameter and 5-8 cm deep, consisting of pebbles, gravel and coarse sand (Ref. 89241). Spawning takes place in pre-excavated pits in river beds, its depth between 50-100 cm; after spawning the adults die (Ref. 51442). The blind ammocoetes are filter feeders of detritus and microorganisms; they live mostly buried in sand, silt or clay sediments for up to 4.5 years, often at the edges of rivers and streams where currents are slow (Ref. 51442, 59043, 88184, 88185). Sometimes they are found in substrates with submerged vegetation and plant debris (Ref. 12285). Ammocoetes may tolerate low oxygen levels but when burrows reach near anoxic levels, the larvae need to emerge from the substrate in order to survive (Ref. 88184). Fisheries exist in England (UK), Finland, France, and the Russian Federation. In the 19th century, up to 450,000 adults yearly were used by the English fishing fleet as bait in the fisheries for Gadus morhua and Psetta maxima. In Finland, the catch in 1983 was 2.3-2.4 million individuals (about 100 t) for a value of $800,000 US. There are reports of intoxication through eating this species (Halstead 1967). The mucus and serum are poisonous and the flesh must be thoroughly washed and all the blood removed before consumption (Ref. 5504). Cooking method involves de-sliming, removal of heads and branchial regions, the rest of the body covered in sunflower flour, and cooked in sunflower oil (Ref.89241). Utilized fresh and smoked; eaten fried (Ref. 9988).
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Importance

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fisheries: minor commercial; bait: usually; price category: unknown; price reliability:
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European river lamprey

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The European river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis), also known as the river lamprey or lampern, is a species of freshwater lamprey.

Description

Adult river lampreys measure from 25 to 40 cm (10 to 16 in) for the sea-going forms and up to 28 cm (11 in) for the lake forms. The very elongate body is a uniform dark grey above, lightening to yellowish off-white on the sides and pure white below. Like all lampreys, these fish lack paired fins and possess a circular sucking disc instead of jaws. They have a single nostril and seven small gill slits on either side behind the eye. The teeth are sharp and these fish can be told from the rather smaller brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri) by the fact that the two dorsal fins are more widely separated.[4]

Distribution

The European river lamprey is found in coastal waters around almost all of Europe from the north-west Mediterranean Sea north to the lakes of Finland, Scotland, Norway (Mjøsa), Wales (Cors Caron), and Russia, including rivers in the Alps; especially in Nakkila, Finland, European river lampreys are a traditional local delicacy.[5] Initially, in 1996, its conservation status was rated "near threatened" but since 2008 it has been rated as being of "least concern" following recovery of populations after pollution problems in central and western Europe.[1] An assessment for the Baltic Sea published in 2014, however, classified the river lamprey as Near Threatened in this region.[6] In August 2018, Spain declared it officially extinct in its territory.[7]

Prey

Like many lampreys, this species feeds as an ectoparasite and parasite of fish. It clings on to the flanks or gills of the fish with its sucker and rasps at the tissues below.[4]

Taxonomy

River lampreys belong to the same genus as brook lamprey and are thought to be very closely related. Current thinking suggests that European brook and river lampreys are a paired species, which means the river lamprey represents the anadromous (seagoing) form of the resident brook lamprey. However, this is an area that is still being actively researched.[8]

Reproductive cycle

The European river lamprey has a reproduction cycle similar to that of salmon. River lampreys migrate upstream from the sea to spawning grounds in autumn and winter.[9][10][11] Spawning activity is greatest in the springtime (like the brook lamprey) and after spawning, the adults die. The young larvae, known as ammocoetes, spend several years in soft sediment before migrating to the sea as adults. It is thought that these fish spend two to three years in marine habitats before making the return trip to spawn.[4]

Statistics

As ammocoetes, identification of these animals beyond genus level (Lampetra) is difficult because of their close similarity to brook lamprey. They average 30 cm in length as adults, and some may be considerably smaller (20 cm), but in each case they are distinctly larger than adult brook lamprey (12–14 cm). They are generally 150 g in mass, and their maximum life span is roughly 10 years.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Freyhof, J. (2016) [errata version of 2011 assessment]. "Lampetra fluviatilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T11206A97805807. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  2. ^ Van Der Laan, Richard; Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ronald (11 November 2014). "Family-group names of Recent fishes". Zootaxa. 3882 (1): 1–230. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1. PMID 25543675.
  3. ^ Froese, R.; Pauly, D. (2017). "Petromyzontidae". FishBase version (02/2017). Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  4. ^ a b c "River lamprey: Lampetra fluviatilis". NatureGate. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
  5. ^ Home – Nakkila
  6. ^ HELCOM (2013). "HELCOM Red List of Baltic Sea species in danger of becoming extinct" (PDF). Baltic Sea Environmental Proceedings (140): 72. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-10-07. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  7. ^ "El BOE publica el Listado de 32 Especies Extinguidas en el territorio español" [BOE publishes the list of 32 extinct species in Spanish territory]. Público (in Spanish). 13 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  8. ^ Espanhol, R; Almeida, PR; Alves, MJ (May 2007). "Evolutionary history of lamprey paired species Lampetra fluviatilis (L.) and Lampetra planeri (Bloch) as inferred from mitochondrial DNA variation". Molecular Ecology. 16 (9): 1909–24. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03279.x. PMID 17444901. S2CID 9936600.
  9. ^ Silva, S.; Macaya-Solis, C.; Lucas, M. (2017). "Energetically efficient behaviour may be common in biology, but it is not universal: a test of selective tidal stream transport in a poor swimmer" (PDF). Marine Ecology Progress Series. 584: 161–174. doi:10.3354/meps12352.
  10. ^ Silva, S.; Lowry, M.; Macaya-Solis, C.; Byatt, B.; Lucas, M. C. (2017). "Can navigation locks be used to help migratory fishes with poor swimming performance pass tidal barrages? A test with lampreys". Ecological Engineering. 102: 291–302. doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.02.027.
  11. ^ Masters, J. E. G.; Jang, M.-H.; Ha, K.; Bird, P. D.; Frear, P. A.; Lucas, M. C. (2006). "The commercial exploitation of a protected anadromous species, the river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis (L.)), in the tidal River Ouse, north-east England". Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 16 (1): 77–92. doi:10.1002/aqc.686.
  12. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2012). "Lampetra fluviatilis" in FishBase. September 2012 version.
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European river lamprey: Brief Summary

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The European river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis), also known as the river lamprey or lampern, is a species of freshwater lamprey.

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