Don’t Judge a Lamprey by Its Teeth: Genetic analysis shows need to reconsider species classification, possibly influencing conservation decisions

Lamprey are a lineage of boneless fish that is older than trees. Traditionally, lamprey species have been identified by morphology—that is, their visible features, such as teeth. However, this method can be unreliable because without bones, lampreys don’t have many distinguishing features, and most of these don’t develop until adulthood. Genetic analysis is a more reliable way to classify species. However, no comprehensive gene-based classification of lampreys had been done. To address this gap, Rocky Mountain Research Station research ecologist Kellie Carim and colleagues examined a large database of gene sequences that included lamprey from around the world plus many new sequences of fish in the Willamette River basin in Oregon. The results support several reclassifications at both the genus and species level.