Least Brook Lamprey Lampetra aepyptera (C. C. Abbott, 1860)    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Cephalaspidomorphi   >   Order Petromyzontiformes   >   Family Petromyzontidae   >   Genus Lampetra   

Status:

Least Brook Lampreys spawn in the spring. After hatching, the ammocetes spend about three years in the stream bottom eating organic matter and microscopic inverts. They will transform into non-feeding adults in the summer/fall, spawn in the spring, and then expire. (R. Aguilar, pers. comm.)

Relationships:

Unlike its more famous cousin the Sea Lamprey, this species is not parasitic on fish but feeds as a youngster by filtering out micro-organisms in the water. The adults do not feed. (R. Orr, pers. comm.)

There are 58 records in the project database.

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An adult Least Brook Lamprey found in Charles Co., Maryland (3/31/2009). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A Least Brook Lamprey in Calvert Co., Maryland (3/16/2020). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

A Least Brook Lamprey in Calvert Co., Maryland (3/16/2020). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lampreys in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/10/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Charles Co., Maryland (4/4/2022). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (3/31/2022). (c) Benji Beluga, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/22/2022). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/22/2022). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Prince George's Co., Maryland (3/21/2020). (c) plaisant, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by plaisant via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Charles Co., Maryland (4/4/2022). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/22/2022). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/22/2022). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/22/2022). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/22/2022). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/22/2022). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/22/2022). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Prince George's Co., Maryland (4/4/2021). (c) Romain Clément, all rights reserved. Photo by romainclem via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Least Brook Lamprey in Howard Co., Maryland (4/1/2017). Determined by Jay Kilian. Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Calvert Co., Maryland (4/13/2023). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Prince George's Co., Maryland (4/5/2020). (c) spyingnaturalist, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by spyingnaturalist via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/22/2022). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Calvert Co., Maryland (4/13/2023). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Charles Co., Maryland (3/11/2022). (c) Tim Emhoff, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tim Emhoff via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/22/2022). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Least Brook Lamprey in Charles Co., Maryland (4/14/2018). (c) jkfarkas, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by jkfarkas via iNaturalist. (MBP list)


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