Monday, June 23

The Pacific lamprey or three tooth Lamprey

The Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) is an anadromous parasitic lamprey from the Pacific Coast of North America and Asia. Lamprey, any of about 43 species of primitive fishlike jawless vertebrates placed with hagfishes in the class Agnatha. Lampreys belong to the family Petromyzonidae. It is also known as the three tooth lamprey and tridentate lamprey.

The Pacific lamprey

Pacific lamprey grows to about 80 centimeters (31 in) as adults.

They live in coastal and fresh waters and are found in temperate regions around the world, except Africa. The eel-like, scaleless animals range from about 15 to 100 centimetres (6 to 40 inches) long. They have well-developed eyes, one or two dorsal fins, a tail fin, a single nostril on top of the head, and seven gill openings on each side of the body. 

Pacific lampreys are an important ceremonial food for Native American tribes in the Columbia River basin. Pacific lamprey numbers in the Columbia River have greatly declined with the construction of the Columbia River hydro-power system. Almost no harvest opportunity for Native Americans remains in the Columbia River and its tributaries except for a small annual harvest at Willamette Falls on the Willamette River.

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