Lampreys
Petromyzontiformes
Lampreys (sometimes inaccurately called lamprey eels) are a group of jawless fish composing the order Petromyzontiformes , sole order in the class Petromyzontida. The adult lamprey is characterized by a toothed, funnel-like, sucking mouth. The common name "lamprey" is probably derived from Latin lampetra, which may mean "stone licker" (lambere "to lick" + petra "stone"), though the etymology is uncertain. "Lamprey" is sometimes seen for the plural form.
About 38 extant species of lampreys are known, with around seven known extinct species. They are classified in three families—two small families in the Southern Hemisphere (Geotriidae, Mordaciidae) and one large family in the Northern Hemisphere (Petromyzontidae).
3 branches of this order, most-observed first · about 49 known species
Northern Lampreys
familyPetromyzontidae
Southern Lampreys
familyGeotriidae
Southern Topeyed Lampreys
familyMordaciidae
Where it lives
Recorded sightings
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geo-referenced records in GBIF, from museums, herbaria and field observers.
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In the stacks
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Every page naming Petromyzontiformes in the Biodiversity Heritage Library →
This page is assembled live from iNaturalist, GBIF, Wikipedia, the Source Library and the Internet Archive. It is not yet part of the hand-edited codex. iNaturalist taxon 49232.