Lamprey Native American eel Lampreys Chinook salmon ARE LAMPREYS EELS OR FISH? of Oregon You might be surprised to learn that lampreys – and eels – are indeed fish! At first glance, lampreys can be confused with eels (both have long, slender bodies). Five of Oregon’s lampreys are state listed Although both species are fishes, they are as Sensitive Species (facing threats to their very different and are not closely related. populations and/or habitats): Miller Lake, Lampreys arose several hundred million Pacific, western river, western brook, and years ago, making them older than dinosaurs. Pacific brook, all of which have conservation Lampreys remain primitive. They have plans detailing their biology, status, and needs. boneless bodies and sucking disk mouths. These species also are all Oregon Conservation Eels, on the other hand, are much newer Strategy Species of greatest conservation need. species arriving just a few million years ago Oregon’s other five lamprey species are: Goose and are more evolved with a bony skeleton Lake, Northern California brook, Pit-Klamath and jaws. brook, Klamath River, and Klamath Lake. Miller Lake lamprey: Oregon’s smallest lamprey species. Lampreys are indicators of a healthy and Oregon Department of diverse stream ecosystem. About 40 species of lamprey exist worldwide, and Oregon is Fish and Wildlife 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE a hot spot for lamprey diversity with 10 LAMPREY SIZE COMPARISON CHART native species. Salem, Oregon 97302 6 inches | Miller Lake lamprey 503-947-6000 | ODFW.com
7 inches | Pacific brook lamprey www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/species/
7 inches | Western brook lamprey THE LIFE CYCLES OF LAMPREY ARE DIVERSE AND lampreys.asp FALL INTO 2 GROUPS: PARASITIC AND NON-PARASITIC. 7 inches | Pit-Klamath brook lamprey 9 inches | Northern California brook lamprey
10 inches | Goose Lake lamprey ic J rasit uven Pa ile 11 inches | Klamath River lamprey Original graphic courtesy of Great Lakes Fishery Commission
12 inches | Western river lamprey
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#0455c0 L Science Blue PANTONE 2132 C #04193c Visit ODFW @ MyODFW.com Tangaroa PARASITIC PANTONE 282 C #0a6ada Science Blue /myodfw /myodfw /myodfw PANTONE 2387 C #064997 Congress Blue NON-PARASITIC PANTONE 2945 C #4584ef Corn ower Bl
/myodfw /myodfw /myodfw /myodfw /odfw /ieodfw 2 /2021 Original graphics courtesy of Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Graphics have been greatly modified. Image courtesy of /myodfw /odfw /ieodfw Michael Durham/Oregon Zoo Pacific LAMPREY (parasitic) is culturally significant to several Native American tribes that harvest them for use in ceremonies and for food, medicine and other purposes. For more information on the Pacific lamprey, go to https://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/ species/docs/lamprey/pacific_lamprey.pdf
Western river LAMPREY (parasitic) rear to adult size in the nearshore ocean and large estuaries before returning to freshwater to spawn and die. For more information on the western river lamprey, go to https://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/species/ docs/lamprey/western_river_lamprey.pdf
Western brook LAMPREY (non-parasitic) spend their entire lives in freshwater and do not feed as adults. For more information on the western brook lamprey, go to https://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/species/ docs/lamprey/western_brook_lamprey.pdf
Miller Lake LAMPREY (parasitic) is the smallest landlocked parasitic lamprey in the world, existing only in Miller Lake and its sub-drainage, and in the upper Williamson and Sycan rivers east of the Cascades. For more information on the Miller Lake lamprey, go to https:// Large species illustrations are not shown to scale. www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/species/docs/ lamprey/miller_lake_lamprey.pdf
PIT-KLAMATH BROOK lamprey PACIFIC BROOK lamprey 7 inches | Non-parasitic 7 inches | Non-parasitic
KLAMATH RIVER lamprey GOOSE LAKE lamprey At this time, little information 11 inches | Parasitic 10 inches | Parasitic is available for these six species.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BROOK lamprey KLAMATH LAKE lamprey 9 inches | Non-parasitic 13 inches | Parasitic