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Did you know: about the lamprey? Have I done this one before? Kinda interesting.

Lampreys are primitive, jawless fish that have existed for over 340 million years. They are characterized by their long, snake-like bodies, a sucking disc around their mouth, and the absence of scales, paired fins, and bones. Some species, like the sea lamprey, are parasitic as adults, attaching to other fish and feeding on their blood

Key Characteristics:
Jawless: Lampreys lack jaws and instead have a suction-cup like mouth with teeth.
Scaleless: They have smooth, scaleless skin.
Primitive: They are considered one of the oldest fish on Earth.
Parasitic: Some species, like the sea lamprey, are parasitic as adults, attaching to other fish and feeding on their blood and body fluids.
Anadromous: Many lamprey species are anadromous, meaning they are born in freshwater, migrate to the ocean as adults, and then return to freshwater to spawn.
Life Cycle:
1. Larvae:
Lampreys hatch from eggs and spend their early years as larvae in freshwater, feeding on drifting plankton.
2. Migration:
As they mature, they migrate to the ocean and start the parasitic phase of their life.
3. Parasitism:
As adults, they attach to host fish and feed on their blood and body fluids.
4. Spawning:
After a period of parasitism, they return to freshwater to spawn and die.
Examples:
Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus):
Native to the Atlantic Ocean, they are also invasive in the Great Lakes, where they prey on other fish

Pacific Lamprey:
Found in the Pacific Ocean and its associated rivers, they are important to Native American Tribes.
Ecological Impact:
Invasive Species: Sea lampreys in the Great Lakes have had a significant negative impact on native fish populations and fisheries.
Predation: They prey on a variety of fish species, including salmon and lake trout.
Cultural Significance: Pacific lampreys are culturally significant to Native American Tribes, who have harvested them for subsistence, ceremonial purposes, and medicine for centuries

Found in the Pacific Ocean and its associated rivers, they are important to Native American Tribes.
Ecological Impact:
Invasive Species: Sea lampreys in the Great Lakes have had a significant negative impact on native fish populations and fisheries.
Predation: They prey on a variety of fish species, including salmon and lake trout.
Cultural Significance: Pacific lampreys are culturally significant to Native American Tribes, who have harvested them for subsistence, ceremonial purposes, and medicine for centuries

And if you have few minutes, I always enjoy her videos
[media=https://youtu.be/IuCcXto1vPk]
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SunshineGirl · 36-40, F
Fun fact: King Henry I of England died at the age of 66 after eating a "surfeit of lampreys" during a hunting trip to France. He had been warned by his physicians of the dangers of a lamprey-based diet 😬