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Biology of the southern brook lamprey,Ichthyomyzon gagei

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Synopsis

Larval, metamorphosing and adult representatives of the southern brook lamprey,Ichthyomyzon gagei, were collected from Choclafaula Creek in Alabama to provide information on aspects of its life cycle. The proportional length of the prebranchial, branchial, trunk and tail regions changed throughout larval life in a pattern similar to that demonstrated in other lampreys. Body depth changed also throughout much of larval life. Oral disc, dorsal fin height, and eye diameter increased through all or most of metamorphosis and the adult interval. Length-frequency curves for larvae indicate a larval life of 3 1/4–4 1/4 years. Growth rate, reflected by change in total length, was constant throughout the year for each age group. Sex ratio of larvalI. gagei was 1♂: 1.02♀. Metamorphosis is initiated in early September and is completed between early February and mid March. Adult 1. gagei spawn between mid April and early May. The number of oocytes ranged from 820–2485 between 95–150 mm total length. The maximum gonadosomic ratio in males was 17.1 and 26.3% in females.

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  1. Department of Zoology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, NIG 2W1, Canada

    F. William & H. Beamish

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William, F., Beamish, H. Biology of the southern brook lamprey,Ichthyomyzon gagei . Environ Biol Fish 7, 305–320 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005566

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