Ohio lamprey
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| Ohio lamprey | |
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| Species: | I. bdellium
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| Ichthyomyzon bdellium (D. S. Jordan, 1885)
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The Ohio lamprey (Ichthyomyzon bdellium) is a lamprey found in the Ohio River drainage basin in the United States. The Ohio lamprey is one of the two parasitic species of lampreys. They are considered to be an endangered/rare species in some states, due to siltation, pollution, and construction of dams.
Physical description
All lampreys have a long, almost eel-like, body with no scales. Lampreys have segments of muscles that are visible along their body called myomeres, and a jawless mouth. In larval lampreys, called ammocoetes, their mouth is not fully developed, very small, and hidden between folds of skin. Adults have a disk shaped mouth with varying amounts of teeth depending on the species. The Ohio lamprey has a single, continuous dorsal fin. Fully grown, Ohio lampreys reach 10-14 inches, but may get to 15 inches.
Diet
As ammocoetes, Ohio lampreys filter plankton, algae, and other small organic matter. As adults, they attach onto larger prey, such as smallmouth bass, walleyes, redhorse suckers and trout. Ohio lampreys are a parasitic species. They get their nutrients by attaching themselves onto larger fish, and feeding from them. Ohio lampreys do not kill the host fish, and they evolved with other native fishes, so they do not have a significant effect on populations of their host fishes.
Reproduction
As a fully grown, sexually mature adult, the Ohio lamprey will detach itself from their host fish. They will then return to the stream where they were born to spawn. Spawning occurs in late May or early June. The adults work together to create a pit on gravelly riffles in moderate currents. They use their suction cup-like mouth to move rocks from these riffles, and then the female lamprey deposits eggs into this pit after mating. The adult Ohio lampreys then die after spawning.
Distribution
The Ohio lamprey is found in the Ohio River basin. This species in found in 11 states total, which are Alabama, Georgia. Indiana, Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The Ohio lamprey used to be found in Illinois, but is now considered to be extirpated, due there being no sightings since 1918.