SPACE — Lampreys belong to a group of ancient fish called Agnatha which evolved 450 million years ago, predating dinosaurs and trees. Having survived various mass extinctions, this fish still stalks its prey in the vast oceans and fresh water.
Biodata
No: Lamprey Pasifik (Entosphenus tridentatus).
Residence: Freshwater and marine ecosystems in the North Pacific, from California to Alaska, and across the Bering Sea to Russia and Japan.
Food: Blood and body fluids of other fish, including Pacific salmon, flatfish, rockfish, and Pacific hake.
Famous for: Includes a group of ancient jawless fish that evolved more than 450 million years ago during the Ordovician period. These eel-like creatures darted up and down rivers long before dinosaurs and even trees existed. It is also recorded as having survived at least four mass extinctions on earth, including the dinosaurs.
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Currently, there are about 40 species of lamprey distributed throughout the world. Pacific lampreys are boneless fish, and their entire skeleton is made of cartilage. Instead of jaws, they have sucker mouths surrounded by teeth.
They use their mouths to attach themselves to their prey and take blood and body fluids until the victim dries up. As far as scientists know, lampreys do not eat meat.
Female lampreys lay up to 200,000 eggs in a freshwater nest. The eggs will hatch for three to four weeks.
Once the larvae hatch, they will burrow into the sediment and remain buried for up to a decade. They will emerge as juveniles and migrate downstream towards the sea in search of food.
They will return to freshwater habitats several years later to reproduce. Adult lampreys, which grow to a length of 84 centimeters, can travel hundreds of miles inland in search of the perfect spawning and rearing site.
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Pacific lampreys are highly coveted prey for many species of birds, mammals, and large fish. Because the meat is very fatty, containing three to five times more calories than salmon. Because of this, lampreys play an important role in freshwater and marine ecosystems. Source: Live Science
2023-09-26 19:42:00
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