Pouch Lamprey, Geotria australis Gray, 1851
Scientific name: Geotria australis
Click to enlarge image
A Pouch Lamprey from Western Australia.
Image: philbenstead
© philbenstead (iNaturalist)
© philbenstead (iNaturalist)
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Geotria
- Species
- australis
- Family
- Geotriidae
- Order
- Petromyzontiformes
- Class
- Petromyzontida
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- Maximum length 60 cm, more commonly to 45 - 50 cm.
Introduction
The Pouch Lamprey is a jawless fish that has skin flaps around the mouth.
Habitat
Larvae (ammocoetes) live in mud burrows in the upper reaches of streams then migrate down to the sea after about 4 years. Spawning migrations of adults take them upstream into fresh waters.
Distribution
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
References
- Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & M. Allen. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 394.
