Distribution, Life History, and Morphological Variations of the Southern Brook Lamprey, Ichthyomyzon gagei

Abstract

SINCE its original description, the southern brook lamprey, Ichthyomyzon gagei Hubbs and Trautman (1937), has received little attention. The original description was based on 10 adults and 2 ammocoetes from Alabama, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Additional data have been added by the few brief papers mentioned below, which supply some information on geographical distribution, size, and habitat. This paper summarizes the available information regarding extensions of the known range of the species, and presents a description of the habitats of larvae and of spawning areas, observations on spawning habits and fecundity, notes on the growth and development of ammocoetes, and morphological variations within the species. Acknowledgements.-Reeve M. Bailey, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology (UMMZ), confirmed the identification of the specimens collected in 1948. Robert R. Miller loaned specimens for study. Ernest C. Lachner examined type material in the U. S. National Museum (USNM). Edgar Evans, of Tallahassee, Florida, loaned his material and gave permission to use data in his unpublished master's thesis. Other persons who loaned specimens were William M. McLane, Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission; Edward C. Raney, Cornell University (CU); Ralph W. Yerger, Florida State University (FSU); Royal D. Suttkus, Tulane University (TU); and Clark Hubbs, University of Texas (UT).