The Biology of Australian Lampreys

Abstract

This contribution reviews published data on the biology of the three species of lamprey found in Australia. Geotria australis and Mordacia mordax are anadromous parasitic species, which at the end of their marine trophic phase typically reach lengths of 550–750 and 300–420 mm, respectively. M. praecox is a non-parasitic lamprey, which has almost certainly evolved from a form similar to M. mordax and rarely reaches 160 mm. The distinctive characters of Geotria and Mordacia support the view that these two genera are appropriately placed in different families (Geotriidae and Mordaciidae). Both families diverge in several respects from that containing all extant Holarctic species (Petromyzontidae).