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Allegheny brook lamprey (Ichthyomyzon greeleyi) — Petromyzontidae

Allegheny brook lamprey

Ichthyomyzon greeleyi

The Allegheny brook lamprey (Ichthyomyzon greeleyi) is a freshwater fish of the family Petromyzontidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Freshwater
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Allegheny brook lamprey is a small, non-parasitic lamprey (Petromyzontidae) from fresh water of the eastern United States. The species grows to about 20 cm and has an eel-shaped, scaleless body without jaws, with a round sucker mouth. The larvae live for years buried in river sediment, filtering detritus and algae; the adults do not feed and spawn shortly after metamorphosis. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Allegheny brook lamprey?

The Allegheny brook lamprey has a snake-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Allegheny brook lamprey live?

The Allegheny brook lamprey lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Allegheny brook lamprey get?

The Allegheny brook lamprey grows to a maximum of about 20 cm. On average the species is around 13 cm.

Is the Allegheny brook lamprey dangerous to humans?

No, the Allegheny brook lamprey is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Allegheny-beekprik sourced
English name
Allegheny brook lamprey sourced
Scientific name
Ichthyomyzon greeleyi
Family
Petromyzontidae
Other names
Mountain brook lamprey verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Average length (cm)
13.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Ichthyomyzon

More from the family Petromyzontidae

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