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Home/Species/ Mountain Brook Lamprey

Ichthyomyzon greeleyi

Hubbs and Trautman, 1937

Mountain Brook Lamprey

G4Apparently Secure Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101083
Element CodeAFBAA01050
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassPetromyzontida
OrderPetromyzontiformes
FamilyPetromyzontidae
GenusIchthyomyzon
Concept Reference
Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20. 183 pp.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-12-10
Change Date2011-05-11
Edition Date2025-12-10
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G., R. Jennings, P. Novak, and M. K. Clausen (2012); rev. R. L. Gundy (2025)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
This species occurs in the Ohio River basin of the eastern U.S. It has declined and is extirpated from some areas as a result of habitat degradation due to pollution, siltation, and dams. Short-term population trends are unknown.
Range Extent Comments
This species is discontinuously distributed in the Ohio River basin, including the Allegheny River and headwaters of the Kentucky, Green, and Cumberland rivers and upper Tennessee River tributaries, from extreme southwestern New York (Smith 1985), northwestern Pennsylvania (Cooper 1983, Li et al. 2014), and eastern Ohio (Trautman 1981) southward through Kentucky (Burr and Warren 1986) and West Virginia (Stauffer et al. 1995) to Tennessee (Etnier and Starnes 1993), northern Alabama (Mettee et al. 1996, Boschung and Mayden 2004), northern Georgia, and western North Carolina (Menhinick 1991, Tracy et al. 2020). Kentucky records from the Kentucky River and the Ohio River at Paducah are erroneous (Burr and Warren 1986). Using Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2025) records, range extent is estimated to be 308,639 km² (RARECAT 2025).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a large number of occurrences (subpopulations). This species is difficult to survey because of the secretive habits of larvae and the brief period of activity of the adults (Jenkins and Burkhead 1994), so it may occur in more locations than available records indicate. Applying a 10 km separation distance to GBIF (2025) records, 42 occurrences are estimated (RARECAT 2025).

In New York, this species was collected twice from one location in 1937 and 1975; condition of the site is estimated to be fair or poor; species has not been extensively sought (Smith 1985; P. Novak, pers. comm., 1997). Cooper (1983) mapped 14 collection sites in Pennsylvania; these represent several distinct occurrences. In Ohio, Trautman (1981) mapped 8 collection sites, with two during the period 1955-1980; the species is represented by a few extant occurrences in two drainages, with 50% in good to excellent condition and 50% in poor condition (D. Rice, pers. comm., 1997). In Kentucky, Burr and Warren (1986) mapped 5 widely scattered collection sites; more recently, 8 recorded occurrences and an estimated 0-5 extant occurrences in good to fair condition (R. Cicerello, pers. comm., 1997). In Georgia, estimated 0-5 extant occurrences of unknown condition (R. MacBeth, pers. comm., 1997). Jenkins and Burkhead (1994) mapped 11 widely scattered collection localities in Virginia. Etnier and Starnes (1993) mapped 32 collection sites in Tennessee; these represent probably about 20 distinct occurrences. Boschung and Mayden (2004) mapped 7 collection sites in Alabama. Menhinick (1991) mapped approximately 40 collection sites in North Carolina.
Threat Impact Comments
Some populations have been depleted or extirpated as a result of habitat degradation due to pollution (e.g., runoff with cow manure, sewage, fertilizer, and pesticides), siltation (e.g., from overgrazing, row cropping, and land clearing), and stream alteration, including dams that block movements of adults and ammocoetes (Trautman 1981, Jenkins and Burkhead 1994, Felbaum 1995; mountain brook lamprey fact sheet, New York Department of Environmental Conservation). These factors continue to limit the habitat available to the species. However, Jelks et al. (2008) did not include this species among the fish species they categorized as endangered, threatened, or vulnerable.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Habitat includes clean, clear, gentle- or high-gradient creeks (1-23 meters wide, 30-60 centimeters deep) with substrates generally of sand, pebbles, and small stones (Schwartz 1959, Burr and Warren 1986, Boschung and Mayden 2004,Page and Burr 2011). Adults occur in riffles or runs, under overhanging banks, or occasionally they attach to stones in the current; larvae burrow into beds of mixed sand, mud, and organic debris in pools and backwaters (Burr and Warren 1986, Page and Burr 2011). In Pennsylvania, spawning occurred just above swift riffles and throughout slow to moderate riffles (Raney 1939). In West Virginia, spawning occurred in the middle and lower portions of riffles (Schwartz 1959). In Virginia, Jenkins and Burkhead (1994) observed a spawning group in a gentle, shallow run of mostly small, loose gravel in a stream 2-4 meters wide.

Reproduction

Spawns in spring (late April to early June in several areas) (Raney 1939, Schwartz 1959, Trautman 1981, Jenkins and Burkhead 1994). Larval stage lasts a few to several years (5.2-6.2 years in western North Carolina). Larvae metamorphose mid-August to mid-December in western North Carolina (Beamish and Austin 1985). Adults die after spawning (Raney 1939).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
OhioS1Yes
VirginiaS2Yes
North CarolinaS3Yes
AlabamaS2Yes
PennsylvaniaS4Yes
KentuckyS2Yes
New YorkS2Yes
GeorgiaS3Yes
West VirginiaS1Yes
TennesseeS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
7 - Natural system modificationsLarge (31-70%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7.2 - Dams & water management/useLarge (31-70%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9 - PollutionPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluentsPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (1)
Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
New London Bridge BranchJefferson National Forest844
References (47)
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