The lamprey, a jawless fish, is an ancient creature with a cylindrical, eel-like body and a sucker-like mouth lined with sharp teeth. Found in freshwater and saltwater habitats, lampreys can be parasitic or scavengers, attaching to other fish to feed on their blood or tissues. Their lifecycle includes a larval stage called an ammocoete, transforming into parasitic juveniles before maturing. Despite their primitive appearance, lampreys play essential roles in ecosystem dynamics as both predators and prey.
2. Presented by: Aiman
Roll no# UOC-BSZOL-F2020/016
Department of Zoology
Session: 2020-2024
Subject: lchthyology
Instructor Name: Dr. Syeda Nadia Ahmad
Topic: Lampreys
4. TABLE OF CONTENTS
• Introduction • Taxonomic Classification
• Distribution • Morphology
• Interesting Facts & Importance
• Behavior
• Conclusion
• References
• Research Insights
5. Introduction:
Lampreys are jaw less eel like vertebrates with the range of origins
somewhere between 360 and 550 mya
They are evolutionarily successful group
Have cartilaginous skeleton
They live most of their lives in the form of eyeless, toothless worm-
like larvae (ammocoetes)(Hanel et al., 2022).
Figure. 1:lamprey
https://images.app.goo.gl/pwMbeBS2LZv3spWh8
7. Distribution:
Lampreys has an antitropical distribution.
approximately 40 species , grouped into three families; one in the
Northern Hemisphere, Petromyzontidae, and two in the Southern
Hemisphere, Geotriidae and Mordaciidae.
Found in temperate regions around the world except Africa
Live in coastal and fresh water
8. Morphology:
Lampreys have a distinctive morphology that sets them apart
from other fish species.
Eel-like Body
Sucker like mouth
Cartilaginous Skeleton
No Jaw
Single Dorsal Fin
No Paired Fins
Scale less Skin (Evans et al.,2018).
9. Morphology:
Figure. 2:morphology of lamprey. https://encrypted-
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10. Mouth:
• Notice the teeth and sucker like mouth of
lamprey
• This mouth is equipped with rows of sharp,
keratinized teeth used for attaching to and
feeding on other fish
(Evans et al.,2018).
Figure. 3.mouth of lamprey.
https://www.google.com/img
res?q=mouth
12. Migratory Behavior:
Lampreys undergo extensive
migrations b/t freshwater and
marine environments
Near the end of their lives, they
migrate for spawning in fresh
water stream
Lampreys are semelparous
(Potter,2015).
Figure :3.migratory behavior of
lamprey during different stages of
life.https://ars.elscdn.com/content/i
mage/3-s2.0-.jpg
13. Parental behavior:
• Lampreys do not provide any parental care to their offspring
beyond spawning.
• The fertilized eggs are left to develop on their own, with
survival depending on environmental conditions and natural
factors.(Potter,2015).
15. Ecological significance :
Integral part of aquatic food
webs.
Serve as prey for various fish
species, birds, and mammals.
When they die, contribute
biomass to river.
Important for bioindication of
water environment.
(Hanel et al., 2022).
https://encrypted-
tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:
ANd9GcS2L4twEpb_LJSaUtQx
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16. Nutrient Transfer Champions:
As they feed and die in different environments, they transport
essential nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen.
This process helps maintain the fertility of both freshwater and
marine ecosystems.
Lampreys act as a bridge, connecting nutrient-rich saltwater
environments with nutrient-depleted freshwater systems.
Serve as prey for various fish species, birds, and mammals.
When they die, contribute biomass to river.
Important for bioindication of water environment
17. Traditional Importance:
Lampreys play an important role in the culture and folklore of
some nations
The Pacific lamprey is also of spiritual significance for these
tribes.
The enormous esteem people have for lampreys is also reflected
in the various coats of arms, in which the lamprey appears.
Cooking skills and traditions are practiced at various public
festivals where lampreys are caught and immediately consumed
after cooking (e.g., Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain).
They are also used in biomedical research. (Hanel et al., 2022).
19. Lampreys in Biological Research:
Used as model organism in biomedical research
Their large reticulospinal axons help synaptic transmission
research
The primary use of lampreys was for vitamin, oil, protein
food for livestock, poultry, and fish.
(Hanel et al., 2022).
20. Conclusions:
Lampreys are fascinating creatures with unique
characteristics that set them apart from other fish.
Despite historical misconceptions and negative
perceptions due to their parasitic nature in some species,
lampreys play essential roles in ecosystems as prey and
predators, contributing to biodiversity and serving as
indicators of ecosystem health.
21. References:
Hanel, L., Andreska, J., & Dyldin, Y. V. (2022). Lampreys in human life, their cultural
and folklore importance. Human Soc Sci, 10, 300-315.
Evans, T. M., Janvier, P., & Docker, M. F. (2018). The evolution of lamprey
(Petromyzontida) life history and the origin of metamorphosis. Reviews in Fish
Biology and Fisheries, 28(4), 825-838
Potter, I. C., Gill, H. S., Renaud, C. B., & Haoucher, D. (2015). The taxonomy,
phylogeny, and distribution of lampreys. Lampreys: biology, conservation and control:
volume 1, 3573.
Yang, X. U., Si-Wei, Z. H. U., & Qing-Wei, L. I. (2016). Lamprey: a model for
vertebrate evolutionary research. Zoological research, 37(5), 263.
