THE SEA LAMPREY PETROMYZON MARINUS (L.), RIVER LAMPREY LAMPETRA FLUVIATILIS (L.) AND BROOK LAMPREY LAMPETRA PLANERI (BLOCH) IN IRELAND: GENERAL BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY, DISTRIBUTION AND STATUS WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSERVATION

Three lamprey species occur in Ireland: sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus (L.), river lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis (L.) and brook lamprey, Lampetra planeri (Bloch). All three species are listed under Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC), thereby requiring member states to designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for their protection. The juvenile or ammocoete stages of all three species construct burrows in river sediment and feed on organic material. After metamorphosis, both the sea and river lamprey migrate downstream to the sea, where they feed on fish. The brook lamprey does not migrate to the marine environment, and the adults do not feed. Lampreys are a primitive group of fishes, and they have been [...]