Caspiomyzon wagneri

Caspian lamprey

Taxonomy
Phylum Chordates (Chordata)
Class Fish (Pisces)
Order Lampreys (Petromyzoniformes)
Family Lampreys (Petromyzontidae)
Genus Caspian lampreys (Caspiomyzon)
Species Authority Kessler, 1870
Information
Summary Status: vulnerable (Category II), decreasing in number due to diminished habitat and profound alterations in its riparian breeding areas caused by hydroelectric projects. The unique representative of its genus, the Caspian lamprey is distributed throughout the Caspian Sea and its tributaries from Azerbaijan northward. In the Ural River, the Caspian lamprey can be found as far north as Orenburg. These lampreys average 40 cm in length but can reach up to 55 cm. The immature stages live only in rivers and do not feed until they metamorphose and subsequently enter the Caspian Sea. If necessary, artificial cultivation and reintroduction is possible.

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