Sea Lampreys

Sea lampreys are members of an

ancient family of “jawless fishes”

that were around before the dinosaurs.

Sea LampreysAdult lampreys are

parasitic on a large variety of

fishes and marine mammals where they seek out the largest members of the species.

Sea Lampreys

Adults use their disc-shaped mouth full of

teeth to hold fast to fish.

Sea Lampreys

They may stay attached for

days, or even weeks feeding of the body fluids of their victims.

Sea Lampreys

Although lampreys are best known

for their parasitic exploits in the

Great Lakes, they are native to the

Chesapeake Bay.

Sea Lampreys

Adults enter the bay’s tributaries from March to June to breed. Adults die soon

after this spawning event.

Sea Lampreys

The unattended eggs hatch about two weeks later. The

larvae drift downstream,

eventually burrowing into sandy or silty

areas.

Sea Lampreys

The young lamprey may remain in the sand filter feeding

for up to 17 years.

Sea Lampreys

Only the mature sea lampreys are

parasitic.They spend their

few adult years along the Atlantic

Coast.

Sea Lampreys

Adult sea lampreys grow to about 2.5 feet. They tend to

show brown or black mottling

dorsally; whitish or gray ventrally.

Sea Lampreys

At present, sea lampreys are not a major problem in the bay. This may be due to the fact that

lampreys prefer clear, pollution

free waters.