Attention Swimmers!

      Swimming in Lake Michigan, on the bottom of the lake you see bottom dwellers attached to rocks and different species of fish swimming below. When out of nowhere you watch this peaceful scenery turn gruesome.  A sea lamprey expands its mouth, full of razor sharp teeth, wider than it’s own body. The sea lamprey attaches itself, like a suction cup, to a larger fish’s body and they swim away…


      Sea lampreys are parasitic to many fish in both freshwater and saltwater environments.  After attaching to a host fish, the sea lamprey slowly sucks the blood and other bodily fluids of the fish to gain nutrients for itself.


      If you are interested in learning more about the Petromyzon marinus (commonly known as sea lamprey), feel free to navigate through our website.  You will find information about its habitat, life cycle, interactions with other species, and how it has adapted to its environment.  

 

To find more information about other organisms, follow this link to multiple organisms.

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