Lamprey ID

Chestnut Lamprey
Ichthyomyzon castaneus
Also known as: lamprey

Description: Parasitic fish with eel-like body and a sucking-disc mouth that enables it to cling onto host fish. The teeth on the tongue-like structure are then used to rasp into the flesh which enables the lamprey to feed on body fluids that flow from the wound. Many fish survive the attack – as evidenced by a scar. Lampreys migrate upstream to find favorable spawning sites.

Family: Lamprey
Type: Non-Game Fish
Range: Scarce, some have been found in the Missouri River.

References

The Fishes of Nebraska by Hrabik, et. al (2015)