Surviving 4 Mass Extinctions: The Extraordinary Pacific Lamprey

The Pacific lamprey, a jawless fish, is an ancient species that has survived four mass extinctions. With a sucker mouth rimmed with teeth, it latches onto prey and feeds on their blood and body fluids. Pacific lampreys have boneless bodies made of cartilage and play a vital role in freshwater and marine ecosystems. They lay up to 200,000 eggs, with larvae burrowing into sediment for up to a decade before emerging as juveniles. These lampreys can grow up to 33 inches long and are highly sought after as prey due to their fatty flesh.