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| Scientific Name |
Caspiomyzon wagneri |
| Classified By |
Kessler, 1870 |
| Common Name |
Caspian lamprey |
| Class |
Lampreys (Cephalaspidomorphi) |
| Order |
Lampreys (Petromyzontiformes) |
| Family |
Lampreys (Petromyzontidae) |
| Biology |
Non-parasitic lamprey. Adults occur in the sea and spawn in reaches of rivers and streams with strong current. Ammocoetes larvae reach up to 13 mm TL and get up to 3 years old. They live in bottom deposits and feed on diatoms and detritus. In the intestines of adults, only the remains of algae and higher plants are found. However, they may also feed on dead fish and are known to attach themselves to trout, presumably for transport. A 22% reduction in total length occurs from the pre-spawning to the spawning period. Adults die after spawning. The flesh is reported to be poisonous to eat and must be treated before consumption. Until 1868, all catches were dried and used as candles or for production of oil. Only thereafter it was used as food for humans, and is now considered a valuable and delicious fish. |
| Climate |
Temperate |
| Water Temperature From - Celcius |
Unknown °C |
| Water Temperature To - Celcius |
23 °C |
| Depth From - meters |
Unknown
m |
| Depth To - meters |
Unknown
m |
| Zone |
demersal |
| Distribution |
Eurasia: endemic to the Caspian Sea drainage. Construction projects along the rivers entering the Caspian Sea have had a very negative impact. Very rare now in the Volga river. Migrates to uppermost tributaries of Volga. Reported to migrate for spawning to the Sura River and its tributaries as far as Penza Ciry in the 1920s. |
| Region |
Eurasia |
| Range |
59°N - 35°N, 42°E - 58°E |
| Maximum Length |
55.3
cm |
| Common Length |
37
cm |
| Environment |
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; anadromous |
| Vulnerability |
Low to moderate vulnerability (29 of 100) |
| Resilience |
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=tmax=4-6) |
| Threat To Humans |
Poisonous to eat (Ref. 4537) |
| IUCN Red List Status |
Near Threatened (NT) |
| Human Uses |
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: experimental |
| Phylogenetic Diversity Index |
PD50 = 0.6250 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes) |
| Trophic Level |
2 s.e. 0.00 Based on food items. |
| Is kept in Aquariums |
False |
| Occurs in Marine / Salt water |
True |
| Occurs in Brackish water |
True |
| Occurs in Fresh Water |
True |
| Occurs on Reefs |
False |