Pacific lamprey

Description

Pacific lampreys grow to about 80 cm (31 in) as adults.They are anadromous and semelparous.They have slender,elongated bodies with two dorsal fins arising far back on the body.The anal fins are rudimentary and the lower lobe of the caudal fin is larger than the upper lobe and both lobes are continuous with the dorsal fin and the anal fin.Adults living in the sea are a bluish-black or greenish colour above and pale below,but those in fresh water are brown.This species is distinguished by having three (or occasionally two) sharp teeth on the supraoral bar above the mouth and three sharp points on each lateral plate.