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Diadromous Vulnerable 🌡️ Subtropical

Chilean lamprey

Mordacia lapicida Gray, 1851
Max Length
54 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
4.4
Depth
-
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
-
Vulnerability
31.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Ammocoetes and adults found in rivers. Ammocoetes occur in substrates of fine sand with abundant organic detritus along the river banks. Metamorphosis occurs between August and March and recently metamorphosed adults enter marine waters during austral winter (June-August) at about 14.3 cm TL. Anadromous. Adults parasitic on fishes in marine waters. Mature adults occur in continental marine waters between September and December .

Scientific Name
Mordacia lapicida
Authority
Gray, 1851
Habitat
Diadromous
Climate
Subtropical
IUCN Status
VU
Max Length
54 cm
Trophic Level
4.4
Vulnerability
31.00/100
Migration
Anadromous
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Adult: 11.1-54.0 cm TL; body proportions, as percentage of TL (based on 39 specimens measuring 11.1-31.3 cm TL): 8.0-17.0 prebranchial length, 8.3-12.1 branchial length, 57.8-77.1 trunk length and 13.8-19.0 tail length. Mature males with large gular pouch that extends from immediately posterior of oral disc to end of branchial region; trunk myomeres, 78-84; dentition: supraoral lamina, 2 triangular supraoral laminae each with three unicuspid teeth, one per apex; infraoral lamina, 9-13 unicuspid teeth of various size in immature individuals and divided into 3 tricuspid plates with, in each case, the median cusp largest in spawning individuals; 7 endolateral plates on either side each bearing 3-5 unicuspid teeth (in prespawning individuals, usually 4-5); endolateral formula, typically 3-3-4-4-4-4-3 or 4-4-4-5-5-4-3 or 5 endolaterals as individual unicuspid teeth on either side in spawning individuals; 1-2 rows of anterials; first row of anterials consisting of 4 tricuspid radial plates in recently transformed individuals, of 2 tricuspid flanked on either side by 1 quadricuspid radial plate in feeding phase individuals and of 6 unicuspid teeth in spawning individuals; 1 row of exolaterals on each side; 1 row of posterials; first row of posterials, 10-12 tricuspid (sometimes quadricuspid) plates in prespawning individuals and 12 unicuspid teeth in spawning individuals; transverse lingual lamina, w-shaped, with numerous unicuspid teeth in prespawning individuals and with only 2 greatly enlarged lateral unicuspid teeth in spawning individuals; longitudinal lingual laminae, each with 9-15 unicuspid teeth; presence of caudal fin pigmentation but extent of coverage not determined; caudal fin shape, spade-like .: eel-like.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Chilean lamprey is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Chilean lamprey is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Semelparous .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; anadromous . Subtropical; 34°S - 64°S Southeast Pacific: Rivers of southern Chile.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 💧 Freshwater 🌿 Brackish ⬇️ Benthic
Migration
Anadromous
Trophic Level
4.4±0.8

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00102 × L3.06 (TL)
Max TL
54cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Vulnerable
Assessment Date
2021

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Fishing Vulnerability
31.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
4.4
Apex / Top predator
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Gray, 1851

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Chilean lamprey
🇸🇦Arabic جلكى تشيلية
🌍CES mihule hrotozubá
🇫🇮Finnish chilennahkiainen
🇫🇷French lamproie du Chili
🇵🇹Portuguese Lampreia-chilena
🇪🇸Spanish Lamprea de Agua Dulce

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Caragola lapicida Gray 1851 Synonym
Petromyzon acutidens Philippi 1865 Synonym
Petromyzon anwandteri Philippi 1863 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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