Animal Species:Non-parasitic Lamprey, Mordacia praecox Potter, 1968

The Non-parasitic Lamprey is an Australian endemic species that occurs in freshwaters.  The mouth of this jawless species contains radially arranged plates.

Non-parasitic Lamprey, Mordacia praecox

Non-parasitic Lamprey, Mordacia praecox
Sally Reader © Australian Museum

Identification

The Non-parasitic Lamprey has an eel-like body with 7 pairs of gill openings. It has a hood-like upper lip overhanging a suctorial mouth, small eyes and two dorsal fins positioned towards the rear of the body.

Size range

It grows to around 50 cm in length.

Distribution

The species is only known from streams of southern NSW and possibly the La Trobe River, Victoria.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Mordacia praecox

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Non-parasitic Lamprey specimens in Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:
praecox
Genus:
Mordacia
Family:
Mordaciidae
Order:
Petromyzontiformes
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & M. Allen. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 394.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Non-parasitic Lamprey, Mordacia praecox, Mordaciidae,