THE LAMPREYS OF CENTRAL NEW YORK. 



BY H. A. SURFACE, M. S., 

 Fellow in Vertebrate Zoology, Cornell University. 



The greatest enemy of the fish of Cayuga Lake, New York, is a fish-like animal 

 commonly known as the lake lamprey or lamprey eel (Petromyzon marinus unicolor). 

 The name lamprey eel, however, conveys an erroneous idea, as the lamprey is not an 

 eel and resembles the eel only in general external appearance. The name lamper eel is 

 also applied to the mutton-fish or ling (Zoarces anguillaris) of the Atlantic coast. It is 

 possibly from the habits of young lampreys that the authors of our old First Readers 

 justified themselves in the statement: "Eels live in mud." Although this animal is 

 altogether too well known to the fishermen of this region, to most persons it is an 

 unfamiliar object. 



The generic name, Petromyzon, signifies a "rock sucker," because it is sometimes 

 found clinging by its mouth to stones. The specific name marinus indicates the fact 

 that its primary or normal home is the ocean; but the variety unicolor, of which the 

 type is found in Cayuga, Seneca, and the other "finger lakes" of this region, is a land- 

 locked form which has been able to adapt itself to the inland fresh- water conditions 

 throughout the entire year. This variety, now known as the lake lamprey, has become 

 smaller and more uniform in color (hence the varietal name, unicolor} than its probable 

 ancestor, the sea or marine lamprey. 



There are about 20 species of lampreys known to science, mostly inhabitants of 

 temperate regions. Two species are found in the Cayuga Lake Basin, of which the 

 lake lamprey is very injurious to our best fishes. The brook lamprey, Lampetra 

 wilderi Gage, named in honor of Dr. B. G. Wilder, professor of vertebrate zoology 

 in Cornell University, is much smaller than the former, is not known to be injurious 

 to fishes, and does not occur in the lake. It receives its common name from its con- 

 stant occurrence in streams. It is not known in the lake, and no reference has been 

 found indicating that it has even been collected in any lake. In the adult state it 

 has never been known (by us, at least) to take any kind of food, and the assumption 

 will doubtless be confirmed that this vertebrate, like some insects, does all of its feeding 

 in the larval stage, and remains in its mature stage or condition only long enough to 

 reproduce its own kind. Its very long larval period (two or three years) and short adult 

 period (a very few months) would appear to give weight to this assumption. 



This species of lamprey has never been known here in the adult state except 

 during the spring and summer months, and if it has been collected at any other time 

 in other localities particulars of its occurrence are desired. If there is any reference to 



209 

 F. C. B. 1897 14 



