Category: Fish
These anadromous, parasitic fish inhabit the Pacific coasts of North America and Asia. They spend most of the life cycle as larvae, living in freshwater – around 3-7 years. Adults live 1-2 years at sea, parasitizing other fish and sperm whales. The return to freshwater to spawn, typically in habitats similar to salmon and trout. Pacific lamprey are an important ceremonial food source to Native Americans in the Columbia River basin and the Yurok tribe in Northern California.
Undersea Conversations…
While it isn’t obvious, fish have ears, and are able to communicate to one another through sounds. They don’t have vocal chords, but instead vibrate their swim bladders, producing popping, grunting, moaning, barking, or chirping noises. While some species of fish, like the goldfish, are silent listeners, there are over 1000 species that are known to vocalize, and some, like the gurnard who are veritable chatterboxes. While we can’t have a conversation with them - at least not yet - it is theorized that they do it to attract mates, frighten away predators or competitors, to synchronize mating, call for help and warn others, or to orient themselves.
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
