Mar 27, 2015
Sea Lampreys
Sea lampreys are members of an
ancient family of “jawless fishes”
that were around before the dinosaurs.
Sea LampreysAdult lampreys are
parasitic on a large variety of
fishes and marine mammals where they seek out the largest members of the species.
Sea Lampreys
Adults use their disc-shaped mouth full of
teeth to hold fast to fish.
Sea Lampreys
They may stay attached for
days, or even weeks feeding of the body fluids of their victims.
Sea Lampreys
Although lampreys are best known
for their parasitic exploits in the
Great Lakes, they are native to the
Chesapeake Bay.
Sea Lampreys
Adults enter the bay’s tributaries from March to June to breed. Adults die soon
after this spawning event.
Sea Lampreys
The unattended eggs hatch about two weeks later. The
larvae drift downstream,
eventually burrowing into sandy or silty
areas.
Sea Lampreys
The young lamprey may remain in the sand filter feeding
for up to 17 years.
Sea Lampreys
Only the mature sea lampreys are
parasitic.They spend their
few adult years along the Atlantic
Coast.
Sea Lampreys
Adult sea lampreys grow to about 2.5 feet. They tend to
show brown or black mottling
dorsally; whitish or gray ventrally.
Sea Lampreys
At present, sea lampreys are not a major problem in the bay. This may be due to the fact that
lampreys prefer clear, pollution
free waters.