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Pacific Lamprey The vampire fish

During the animals adult life, Pacific Lamprey are parasites consuming an average of 40 pounds of life . The characteristic sucking mouth parts of the lamprey allow it to attach itself to the body of a large trout. It’s horn shaped teeth surrounding the mouth opening clamp onto their prey, keeping them from being shaken off . 

Once attached, the lamprey uses it’s tongue to rasp a hole in the flesh of its prey through which it sucks it’s blood. The saliva of the lamprey contains an anticoagulant that can keep the wound open and the blood flowing for weeks.

Many victims die of infections or blood loss.

Posted by McDon at 5:00 PM

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Labels: fish, Lamprey, Pacific, The, vampire