Pacific+sea+lampreys

=Sea lampreys =

Scientific Name:Petromyzon Marinus
===Physical description: Sea lampreys are long, snake like parastic jawless fish native to the coasts of the Atlantic in Europe, north America and the pacific ocean. Sea lampreys also have seven circular gill holes on each side of their body running down from the head, they also have one nostril ontop of their head. === 

Size: Sea lampreys grow about 2-4 feet long in their parasitic form
 ===Average lifespan:Sea lampreys spend 3-17 years as larva buried in mud and filter feeding, once they reach sexual maturity they live in the ocean for a year or two then return to freshwater streams to spawn ===

Habitat: Sea lampreys spawn in freshwater rivers and streams as larva, once they reach sexual maturity they swim down stream to the ocean.


Range:Sea lampreys are found on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts in North America and Europe, they are also an invasive species in the great lakes.
 ===Diet: As larva they filter-feed for micro organisms in the water, as adults they are parasites, latching on to another fish with thier tooth filled mouths the drill a hole in the fishes skin with their sandpaper like tounge, once the hole is made they drink the fishes bodily fluids until they are full or the host dies.media type="youtube" key="5pysO5JyDDk" height="344" width="425" ===  ===Behavior & adaptations to its way of life: As adults sea lampreys must swim upstream to spawn, to help them with this their suction cup mouth holds onto rocks and boulders to help it rest during the grueling up stream swim. ===  ===How it reproduces: Sea lampreys reproduce by laying eggs in small nests the male digs out while they female lays the eggs, after a few weeks the eggs hatch and become larva, they will remain larva from anywhere to 3-17 years, during the larval stage they will filter feed to survive, once they pupate and become parasitic adults they will aggresivly latch onto and feed on anything they can. ===  ===Relationship to other animals (predator/prey, parasite, etc.): during the larval stage sea lampreys are fair game for a small fish living in the stream, once they become mature they help keep local fish populations under control. Sea lampreys are not native to the great lakes, and thus pose a great threat to the local eco-system, in the great lakes they have no predators and reproduce at an astounding rate. === <span style="color: rgb(24,20,159);"> ===<span style="color: rgb(24,20,159);">Relationship to people: In Alaska grilled Sea Lamprey is a local dish, Sea lampreys are also native to Oregon and Washington state, how ever because of dams along the river coupled with pollution and the over population of seals eating all the salmon and trout the Sea Lamprey population is being greatly threatened. === <span style="color: rgb(24,20,159);"> ===<span style="color: rgb(24,20,159);">History: Aroud 1825 the eerie canal was comlpeted, the canal provided means of sea lampreys getting to the great lakes, even though poison is put down to kill the non-native lamprey larva the species continues to thrive in the great lakes. === <span style="color: rgb(24,20,159);">

<span style="color: rgb(24,20,159);">Conservation Status: Least concern
<span style="color: rgb(24,20,159);"> ===<span style="color: rgb(24,20,159);">Other interesting information: there are several species of Lamprey, both fresh and salt water. If you want to see live lampreys visit the Bonaville dam in Oregon during the summer months, at the fish ladder observatory you can see lampreys clinging to the glass while on their way to spawn. ===