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 anyuillaris) 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 
