Lamprey Tri Fold
Lamprey Tri Fold
Lamprey Tri Fold
American eel
Lampreys
Chinook salmon
ARE LAMPREYS EELS OR FISH?
You might be surprised to learn that
of Oregon
lampreys – and eels – are indeed fish!
At first glance, lampreys can be confused
with eels (both have long, slender bodies).
Five of Oregon’s lampreys are state listed
Although both species are fishes, they are
as Sensitive Species (facing threats to their
very different and are not closely related.
populations and/or habitats): Miller Lake,
Lampreys arose several hundred million Pacific, western river, western brook, and
years ago, making them older than dinosaurs. Pacific brook, all of which have conservation
Lampreys remain primitive. They have plans detailing their biology, status, and needs.
boneless bodies and sucking disk mouths. These species also are all Oregon Conservation
Eels, on the other hand, are much newer Strategy Species of greatest conservation need.
species arriving just a few million years ago
Oregon’s other five lamprey species are: Goose
and are more evolved with a bony skeleton
Lake, Northern California brook, Pit-Klamath
and jaws. Miller Lake lamprey: Oregon’s smallest lamprey species.
brook, Klamath River, and Klamath Lake.
Lampreys are indicators of a healthy and
diverse stream ecosystem. About 40 species
Oregon Department of
of lamprey exist worldwide, and Oregon is Fish and Wildlife
a hot spot for lamprey diversity with 10 LAMPREY SIZE COMPARISON CHART
4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE
native species. Salem, Oregon 97302
6 inches | Miller Lake lamprey 503-947-6000 | ODFW.com
7 inches | Pacific brook lamprey www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/species/
THE LIFE CYCLES OF LAMPREY ARE DIVERSE AND
7 inches | Western brook lamprey lampreys.asp
7 inches | Pit-Klamath brook lamprey
FALL INTO 2 GROUPS: PARASITIC AND NON-PARASITIC.
9 inches | Northern California brook lamprey
33 inches
Juvenile
Pacific lamprey
wning Adu
➂ ➀
➁
➂
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
lt
➁ ➀
L a r va
a
rv
La
PARASITIC
E 2132 C
a
E 282 C
Blue
/myodfw /myodfw /myodfw
E 2387 C
s Blue
NON-PARASITIC
E 2945 C
wer Bl
2 /2021
Original graphics courtesy of Great Lakes Fishery Commission.
Graphics have been greatly modified. Image courtesy of
/myodfw /odfw /ieodfw Michael Durham/Oregon Zoo
Pacific LAMPREY
(parasitic) is culturally significant
to several Native American tribes that
harvest them for use in ceremonies and
for food, medicine and other purposes.
For more information on the Pacific lamprey,
go to https://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish /
species/docs/ lamprey/pacific_lamprey.pdf