Non-parasitic Lamprey, Mordacia praecox Potter, 1968
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© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Mordacia
- Species
- praecox
- Family
- Mordaciidae
- Order
- Petromyzontiformes
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- It grows to around 50 cm in length.
Introduction
The Non-parasitic Lamprey is an Australian endemic species that occurs in freshwaters. The mouth of this jawless species contains radially arranged plates.
The mouth of a preserved and dissected lamprey in the Macleay Museum collection, Sydney University (NHF.1731) Hagfishes and lampreys have have horny teeth in their jawless mouths. The teeth on the tongues of lampreys are used to rasp a hole in their prey, usually other vertebrates.
Image: Mark McGrouther© 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.
Gill pores of a Non-parasitic Lamprey collected from the Moruya River, New South Wales,1967 (AMS IB.7937).
Image: Sally Reader© Australian Museum
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.
References
- Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & M. Allen. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 394.
- 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.
