Lethenteron appendix, the American brook lamprey, is a common non-parasitic lamprey in North America.[4] In adults their disc-like mouths contain poorly developed teeth, useless for attaching to a host.
| American brook lamprey | |
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| American brook lamprey late stage transformer (ammocoete metamorphosing into the adult). | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Petromyzontida |
| Order: | Petromyzontiformes |
| Family: | Petromyzontidae |
| Genus: | Lethenteron |
| Species: | L. appendix
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| Binomial name | |
| Lethenteron appendix (DeKay, 1842)
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| Synonyms[2][3] | |
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Description
editThe eggs of the American brook lamprey (ABL) are white, sticky, and small, measuring about 1 mm (0.04 in). When they hatch, the embryos are small as well, measuring less than 5 mm (0.20 in); they are white and wormlike. Within a month they take on the larval appearance. Larvae of all lampreys are called ammocoetes and when small ABL ammocoetes have a dark band running longitudinally along the body, a dark head region, and the remainder of the body is clear. As they increase in size the body becomes increasing darker, reaching a dark brown by the time the ammocoetes reach their maximum size of about 250 mm (10 in). The dark band on the body begins to lighten during this is as well and is not distinct in more mature ammocoetes. However, mature ammocoetes will have a dark spot on the caudal fin. There are likely numerous races of ABL which may have location specific coloration. In Ohio, older ammocoetes have a dark yellow band which runs the entire dorsal surface, as well as pigmentation in the caudal fin. During metamorphosis into the adult form, this coloration changes drastically. Adults in the fall and winter are silver, but can become more black or brownish by the spring when breeding begins. Adults have a dark back, pale belly, yellowish fins, a dark blotch at the end of the tail, and their skin is smooth and leathery and without scales. The body usually retains a silvery appearance at maturation. Adults are usually about 200 mm (8 in) long, although this can be highly variable. ABL are generally found in clear, cold brooks, and small streams.[5]
Life cycle
editAmmocoetes of ABL feed on algae and detritus for between three and seven years, before they metamorphose into sexually mature adult fish. Metamorphosis takes place in the late summer and early fall, with adults ready to spawn at the end of winter when spring temperatures are appropriate for egg development (~15 °C). The male(s), aided by a female(s), construct small nests by picking up pebbles with its mouth and moving them to form the rims of a shallow depression. Often adults work in groups, and build the nests communally. During and after construction of the nests, the sticky eggs are deposited in the nest and adhere to the sand and gravel. Adult ABL cannot eat, since they have a nonfunctional intestine, and only live for four to six months.[6] As a result, adult ABL die after spawning.
References
edit- ^ NatureServe (2015). "Lethenteron appendix". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T202624A76578331. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-1.RLTS.T202624A76578331.en. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ 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. S2CID 31014657.
- ^ Froese, R.; Pauly, D. (2017). "Petromyzontidae". FishBase version (02/2017). Retrieved 18 May 2017.
- ^ "American Brook Lamprey (Lethenteron appendix) - FactSheet". Nas.er.usgs.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-09-18. Retrieved 2015-09-15.
- ^ "LAMPREYS OF THE WORLD : ISSN 1020-8682 : AN ANNOTATED AND ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE OF LAMPREY SPECIES KNOWN TO DATE" (PDF). Fao.org. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ "Smaller Unusual Fish Species That Anglers May Encounter - NYS Dept. Of Environmental Conservation". Dec.ny.gov.