Spiny Softshell (<i>Apalone spinifera</i>) turtles exhibit scarring consistent with attempted lamprey bites

We captured 46 Spiny Softshells (Apalone spinifera) during a mark–recapture study on Lake Erie (2012–2015). Six (13%) exhibited circular scars consistent with the bites of small parasitic lampreys. Two species of parasitic lampreys occur in Lake Erie: the invasive Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) and the native Silver Lamprey (Ichthyostomyzon unicuspis). The scars showed only the marks of the putative teeth surrounding the suctorial mouth, preventing identification based on the position of the supraoral teeth and suggesting that lampreys are rapidly dislodged from the turtles. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of lampreys biting freshwater turtles.

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Order of Succession of Different Types of Infraoral Lamina in Landlocked Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)

Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada ◽

10.1139/f61-067 ◽

1961 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 1125-1143 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

V. D. Vladykov ◽

G. N. Mukerji

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Lake Erie ◽

Petromyzon Marinus ◽

Sea Lamprey ◽

The Other ◽

Predominant Type ◽

Different Types ◽

Basal Portion ◽

Type Intermediate

Infraoral lamina were studied of 630 lampreys from Lake Erie, Ontario, Lake Seneca, New York, and the Père Marquette River, Michigan. The number of cusps on the first set of the lamina is always repeated in consecutive new sets, but the size of the cusps and their orientation vary. The width of the lamina increases slowly from 4.5 to 16.5 mm, with successive replacements of the corneous sheath. The main types of lamina are: normal (teeth large, evenly spaced, their points nearly parallel), inclined (teeth large, evenly spaced, their tips inclined mesad), and rosebud (teeth very small and clustered near the middle of the lamina; concentric lines on the basal portion). There is also the type intermediate between inclined and normal. Newly transformed lampreys and others less than 180 mm long have normal laminae. The rosebud lamina is characteristic of half-grown specimens, being most frequent among lampreys 250–400 mm long. In adults, feeding in lakes, the predominant type is the inclined lamina. In spawning specimens the normal lamina is most characteristic. Thus the usual succession throughout life is: normal, rosebud, inclined, and finally normal again. In spawning specimens there are two new sheaths underneath the old one, one below the other.

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Fecundity of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in Lake Superior

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society ◽

10.1577/1548-8659(1972)101<718:fotslp>2.0.co;2 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 101 (4) ◽

pp. 718-720 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Patrick J. Manion

Keyword(s):

Lake Superior ◽

Petromyzon Marinus ◽

Sea Lamprey

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Long‐term studies on restoration of Connecticut River anadromous sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus Linnaeus 1758: Trend in annual adult runs, abundance cycle, and nesting

Journal of Applied Ichthyology ◽

10.1111/jai.13967 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (5) ◽

pp. 1154-1163 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Boyd Kynard ◽

Martin Horgan

Keyword(s):

Petromyzon Marinus ◽

Sea Lamprey ◽

Connecticut River ◽

Long Term Studies

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Effect of Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) Parasitism on the Abundance of White Suckers (Catostomus commersoni) in South Bay, Lake Huron

Journal of Applied Ecology ◽

10.2307/2404024 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 381 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

B. A. Henderson

Keyword(s):

Petromyzon Marinus ◽

Sea Lamprey ◽

Lake Huron ◽

Catostomus Commersoni

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Classification of Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) Attack Marks on Great Lakes Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush)

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f80-240 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 37 (11) ◽

pp. 1989-2006 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Everett Louis King Jr.

Keyword(s):

Great Lakes ◽

Lake Trout ◽

Petromyzon Marinus ◽

Attachment Site ◽

Sea Lamprey ◽

Salvelinus Namaycush ◽

Oral Disc ◽

Field Assessment ◽

Sea Lampreys

Criteria for the classification of marks inflicted by sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) into nine categories were developed from laboratory studies in an attempt to refine the classification system used in field assessment work. These criteria were based on characteristics of the attachment site that could be identified under field conditions by unaided visual means and by touching the attachment site. Healing of these marks was somewhat variable and was influenced by the size of lamprey, duration of attachment, severity of the wound at lamprey detachment, season and water temperature, and by other less obvious factors. Even under laboratory conditions staging of some wounds was difficult, especially at low water temperatures. If these criteria are to be used effectively and with precision in the field, close examination of individual fish may be required. If the feeding and density of specific year-classes of sea lampreys are to be accurately assessed on an annual basis, close attention to the wound size (as it reflects the size of the lamprey's oral disc) and character of wounds on fish will be required as well as consideration of the season of the year in which they are observed.Key words: sea lamprey, attack marks, lake trout, Great Lakes

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