Caspian lamprey (Caspiomyzon wagneri)

Scientific name: Caspiomyzon wagneri Kessler, 1870

Caspian lamprey (Caspiomyzon wagneri)

The Caspian lamprey (Caspiomyzon wagneri) is a freshwater fish of the family Petromyzontidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 23°C (73°F).

Caspian lamprey care at a glance

Temperature
23°C (73°F)

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.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Caspiomyzon wagneri
Family
Petromyzontidae (Lampreys)
Order
Petromyzontiformes (Lampreys)
Class
Cephalaspidomorphi (Lampreys)
Maximum length
55.3
Common length
37
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; anadromous
Climate
Temperate
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.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Near Threatened (NT)
Threat to humans
Poisonous to eat
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: experimental
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=tmax=4-6)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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