Non-parasitic lamprey (Mordacia praecox)

Scientific name: Mordacia praecox Potter, 1968

Non-parasitic lamprey (Mordacia praecox)

The Non-parasitic lamprey (Mordacia praecox) is a freshwater fish of the family Petromyzontidae. Native range: Oceania, known only from the Moruya and Tuross Rivers in southern New South Wales, Australia.

Biology

Inhabits freshwater streams, a non-parasitic lamprey that spends its entire life cycle in freshwater. Ammocoetes burrow in soft substrates, phase lasts about 3 years; metamorphosis usually occurs between October and November. Presumed to migrate upstream around April, and spawns in late winter or spring.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Mordacia praecox
Family
Petromyzontidae (Lampreys)
Order
Petromyzontiformes (Lampreys)
Class
Cephalaspidomorphi (Lampreys)
Maximum length
50.0
Environment
Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Oceania: known only from the Moruya and Tuross Rivers in southern New South Wales, Australia.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Vulnerable (VU)(D2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

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