PORT CLINTON – Parasitic invasive sea lampreys were on display during the 46th annual Governor’s Lake Erie Fish Ohio Day on June 23.
This sea lamprey bared its many teeth and tongue. It was about 18 inches long.
Sea lamprey have been in the Great Lakes for more than 100 years.
They entered the Great Lakes through shipping channels from the Atlantic Ocean. Much larger than the four native Great Lakes lampreys, they grow up to 25.4 inches long, about twice the size of the native species. As parasites, they can kill up to 40 pounds of fish during their 12-to-18-month parasitic phase, according to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.
They latch on to a fish with its disc-shaped mouth and hooked teeth, then it uses its raspy tongue to rub a hole through the host fish’s scales and skin to feed on blood and other bodily fluids.
If found, the GLFC asks that the lampreys be logged into iNaturalist. To find out more about sea lampreys, visit www.sealamprey.org.
Contact Roger LaPointe at 419-332-2674.
This article originally appeared on Port Clinton News Herald: Parasitic sea lamprey from Lake Erie bares its teeth
Reporting by Roger LaPointe, Port Clinton News Herald / Port Clinton News Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Roger LaPointe, Port Clinton News Herald | USA TODAY Network
