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Lampetra planeri, commonly known as the Brook Lamprey, is a non-parasitic, anadromous jawless fish belonging to the family Petromyzontidae. It is characterized by its eel-like body and a distinctive oral disc. Unlike its parasitic relatives, the adult brook lamprey does not feed, living off reserves accumulated during its larval stage. It spends most of its life as a filter-feeding ammocoete larva in freshwater sediments before metamorphosing into a non-feeding adult that reproduces and dies.
Caratteristiche fisiche
- Forma del corpo
- eel-like
- Colorazione
- Adults are typically dark grey to olive-brown dorsally, fading to a lighter, silvery-grey or yellowish-white ventrally. Ammocoetes are uniformly yellowish-brown or greyish-brown.
- Tipo di squame
- none
- Posizione della bocca
- inferior
- Caratteristiche distintive
- Absence of jaws, paired fins, and scales., Seven gill openings (pore-like) on each side of the head., A single nostril on top of the head., Oral disc with blunt, unicuspid teeth arranged in specific patterns (diagnostic for species)., Two dorsal fins, often contiguous or very close together, with the second dorsal fin continuous with the caudal fin.
- Pinna dorsale
- Two dorsal fins, the first smaller and triangular, the second larger and continuous with the caudal fin. The two fins are often separated by a small notch or are barely contiguous.
- Pinna caudale
- Caudal fin is rounded or spatulate, continuous with the second dorsal and anal fins, forming a continuous fin fold around the posterior end.
- Pinna pettorale
- Absent
- Pinne distintive
- Absence of paired fins (pectoral and pelvic fins).
Consigli per l'identificazione
Size
Adults typically range from 10-16 cm (4-6 inches) in length, rarely exceeding 20 cm. Ammocoetes can reach similar lengths before metamorphosis.
Oral Disc
The oral disc of Lampetra planeri is relatively small and lacks the strong, sharp teeth found in parasitic lampreys. The teeth are blunt and unicuspid. The arrangement of teeth (e.g., number of anterior labial teeth, presence/absence of supraoral lamina) is crucial for species identification.
Dorsal Fins
The two dorsal fins are typically separated by a very small gap or are barely contiguous. This distinguishes it from some other lamprey species where the fins are widely separated or completely fused.
Non-parasitic Nature
Adults do not feed. Their gut is atrophied, and they lack the strong, rasping teeth of parasitic species. This is a key ecological distinction, though not always observable in the field without dissection.
Coloration
The generally drab, olive-brown to grey coloration with a lighter underside is characteristic.
Habitat
- Tipo di acqua
- freshwater
- Profondità
- Larvae (ammocoetes) burrow in soft sediments (sand, silt, detritus) in shallow areas of streams and rivers, typically 5-30 cm deep. Adults are found in similar shallow, flowing waters during spawning.
- Ambiente
- Clear, cool, well-oxygenated freshwater streams and small rivers with gravelly or sandy bottoms for spawning, and areas with fine sediment for larval burrowing. They prefer areas with moderate flow and riparian vegetation.
- Areale geografico
- Widespread across Europe, from the British Isles and Scandinavia south to the Iberian Peninsula and Italy, and east into Russia. Absent from parts of southern Europe and some islands.
Informazioni sull'acquario
- Livello di cura: expert
- Temperamento: peaceful
- Dieta: filter_feeder
- Dimensione minima della vasca: Not suitable for typical aquaria due to specific habitat and life cycle requirements.
- Temperatura: 10-20°C (50-68°F)
- Livello di pH: 6.5-7.5
- Durezza: Soft to medium hard (5-15 dGH)
- Compatibilità: Not typically kept in aquaria. Larvae require specific substrate and water flow; adults are short-lived and non-feeding.
- Requisiti speciali: Requires very specific conditions mimicking natural stream habitats, including fine sand/silt substrate for burrowing larvae, cool, well-oxygenated water, and a complete understanding of its complex life cycle for any attempt at captive maintenance. Not recommended for hobbyists.
Informazioni in natura
- Stato di conservazione: least concern
- Stagionalità: Spawning occurs in spring (typically March to June), depending on geographic location and water temperature. Larval stage (ammocoetes) can last 3-7 years.
- Prezzo di mercato: N/A
- Importanza commerciale: none
- Sapore: Not typically consumed due to small size and conservation status.
- Consistenza: N/A
- Valore nutrizionale: N/A
Fatti chiave
Non-feeding Adultsbehavior
Adult Brook Lampreys do not feed. They live off energy reserves accumulated during their long larval stage, focusing solely on reproduction before dying.
Long Larval Stageinteresting
The larval stage (ammocoete) of the Brook Lamprey can last for 3 to 7 years, during which they live burrowed in sediment and filter-feed on detritus and microorganisms.
Indicator Speciesinteresting
Due to their sensitivity to water quality and habitat degradation, Brook Lampreys are often considered an indicator species for healthy freshwater ecosystems.
Anadromous but Non-migratorybehavior
While technically anadromous (migrating from freshwater to freshwater for spawning), they do not migrate to the sea like some other lamprey species. Their migrations are typically short, upstream movements within freshwater systems.
Ancient Lineageevolution
Lampreys belong to an ancient lineage of jawless fish (agnathans) that have existed for hundreds of millions of years, representing some of the earliest vertebrates.
Informazioni di sicurezza
Sicuro- Livello di sicurezza: safe
- Velenoso: No
- Commestibilità: not recommended
- Note sul maneggio: Brook lampreys are harmless. Handle with care to avoid damaging their delicate skin and mucous layer. They are protected in many regions, so handling should be minimized and only for scientific purposes with appropriate permits.
Specie simili
River Lamprey
Lampetra fluviatilis
L. fluviatilis is an anadromous, parasitic species that grows significantly larger (up to 50 cm). Its oral disc has sharper, more numerous teeth, and its dorsal fins are typically more distinctly separated. It also has a functional digestive tract as an adult.
Sea Lamprey
Petromyzon marinus
P. marinus is a much larger (up to 120 cm), highly parasitic species with a more robust body, a larger oral disc with very strong, sharp teeth, and a distinct pattern of dark mottling on its body. Its dorsal fins are also more widely separated.
Ukrainian Brook Lamprey
Eudontomyzon mariae
E. mariae is another non-parasitic brook lamprey found in Eastern Europe. Differentiation requires careful examination of oral disc dentition and sometimes genetic analysis, as external morphology can be very similar. E. mariae typically has a different arrangement of teeth on the oral disc.
Classificazione scientifica
- Regno
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Classe
- Cephalaspidomorphi
- Ordine
- Petromyzontiformes
- Famiglia
- Petromyzontidae
- Genere
- Lampetra
- Specie
- planeri
Esplora Brook Lamprey
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