Iowa DNR
BioNet
River & Stream Biological Monitoring
Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Surveys
Physical Habitat Assessments

American Brook Lamprey Lethenteron appendix

Family
Petromyzontidae (Lampreys)
Tolerance
Sensitive
Trophic Class
Filter
Is Exotic to Iowa?
False
Is Lithophilous Spawner?
False
Is Hybrid?
False
State Listing Status
Threatened
Assessment Program Statistics

This species was found at 48 bioassessment sites, 5 rapid fish bioassessment sites, 36 fisheries assessment sites, and 1 fisheries presence-only assessment site. In total, it was collected at 85 distinct sites, or 5.6% of the 1512 total sites monitored by the bioassessment program. It is the 55th most commonly collected species.

The American Brook Lamprey was collected in 103 bioassessment sampling sessions and 118 fisheries assessment sessions. It was present in 5 rapid bioassessment sessions and 1 presence-only session.

The biological assessment program has collected a total of 1,522 individual American Brook Lamprey specimens, ranking it the #58 most collected fish.

Species Characteristics

Olive-green to brown above, fading to light below. The dorsal fin is completely divided into two distinct fins. The mouth is a sucking disc, but is just wider than the body. Teeth are weak and are not formed in circular rows, but are in several groups or clusters. There are 65 to 70 myomeres between the last gill slit and the anus. Adults reach about 5- to 8-inches long.

Species Distribution Maps

HUC12 watersheds where this species has been found