Author: (Bloch, 1784)
FBname: European brook lamprey
Remark: : Rembiszewski (1968) reported on three adult hybrids between <i>L. planeri</i> and <i>Eudontomyzon mariae</i> in the Jeziorka River, Poland (Ref. 89241).
Comments: Adults are found in the lowland, piedmont and montane zone in clear, well oxygenated brooks (Ref. 59043).  They live exclusively in freshwater; in middle and upper reaches of small streams and rivers, occasionally in lakes.  Larvae lie buried in the substrate while adults live in the open water (Ref. 57699). Sexually mature adults have been observed burrowing in fine sand (Ref. 89241). Larvae of this species can serve as mid-term bio-indicators (Ref. 57699).  They live in detritus-rich sands or clay sediments (Ref. 59043). Larval life is 5+ to 6+ years, with the smaller individuals of the latter year class delaying metamorphosis by one year. Metamorphosis occurs in September in the Czech Republic (Ref. 89241).  Filter feeding larvae, non-feeding adults (= non-parasitic).  Reproduction takes place upstream, from April to May (Ref. 30578).  Duration of the life cycle is believed to last 6 years on average. Communal spawning in the same redd by <i>L. fluviatilis</i> and <i>L. planeri</i> has been reported in the River Tywi Basin, Wales (UK), in April, at a water temperature of 11 °C. Both species participated in constructing a redd about 23 cm in diameter and 5-8 cm deep, consisting of pebbles, gravel, and coarse sand. In the river Yeo, England (UK), peak spawning activity varies between 26 March and 24 April when water temperatures reach 10-11 °C. As the spawning season progresses, male:female ratios shift from 3.54:1 to 1.60:1. In the Czech Republic, both sexes participate in the redd construction in shady areas of streams that are 1-8 m in width and a few centimeters to 0.8 m in depth. Spawning occurs between 1 and 17 June at water currents 1-4 m/s and water temperatures 10-16 °C (Ref. 89241).  Because of its small size and the mediocre quality of its meat, it is rarely fished.  The larvae are utilized as bait (Ref. 30578).