Sucker
Petromyzon marinus
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
35
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_lamprey
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Petromyzonti
Order
Petromyzontiformes
Family
Petromyzontidae
Genus
Petromyzon
Sucker belongs to the family Petromyzontidae, order Petromyzontiformes, within the Petromyzonti class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Sea Lamprey faces severe population declines due to extensive dam construction blocking access to spawning rivers, habitat degradation from pollution and sedimentation, and historical overfishing. Conservation status may vary by region or assessment authority, but many populations have experienced dramatic reductions from their historical abundance.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Adults are parasitic in marine and large freshwater environments, while larvae (ammocoetes) burrow in soft sediments of freshwater rivers and streams. Adults require access to clean, gravel-bottomed rivers and streams for spawning.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Sea Lamprey faces severe population declines due to extensive dam construction blocking access to spawning rivers, habitat degradation from pollution and sedimentation, and historical overfishing. Conservation status may vary by region or assessment authority, but many populations have experienced dramatic reductions from their historical abundance.
Dam construction and river barriers
Habitat degradation and sedimentation
Water pollution and chemical contamination
Climate change affecting water temperature
Overfishing and bycatch
Found in 35 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Sucker (Petromyzon marinus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/sucker