A review of the geographic distribution, status and conservation of Scotland's lampreys

摘要

Lampreys (Petromyzontiformes) are a diverse group of jawless fishes, comprising approximately 45 species distributed in both northern (41 species from one family, Petromyzontidae) and southern hemispheres (four species from two families, Geotriidae and Mordaciidae) (Renaud, 2011; Mateus et al., 2013; Tutman et al., 2017). Larval lampreys are filter-feeding life-stages commonly located in fluvial sediments (Hardisty, 2006). After several years of growth larvae undergo a radical metamorphosis and the distinctive adult lamprey phenotype is produced (Bird & Potter, 1979). Adult lampreys are broadly characterized as being parasitic (feeding on the blood and/or tissue of fishes) or nonparasitic (nontrophic). Nonparasitic species are often referred to as “brook lampreys”. Three species of lamprey can be found in Scotland: sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus Linnaeus 1758), European river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis Linnaeus 1758), and European brook lamprey (L. planeri Bloch 1784).