Sucker
CR

Sucker

Petromyzon marinus

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_lamprey

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

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.

Threat summary

Habitat

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.

FRESHWATER· majorMARINE· major

Other threatened species in Petromyzontidae

European river lamprey, River LampreyVU

European river lamprey, River Lamprey

Lampetra fluviatilis

Unknown
Lake LampreyEN

Lake Lamprey

Entosphenus macrostomus

Unknown
Brook LampreyVU

Brook Lamprey

Lampetra planeri

Unknown

Threatened in Åland Islands

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
VU

Syndyas nigripes

Unknown
Chrysotus cupreusCR

Chrysotus cupreus

Unknown
VU

narulukkokiiluri

Syntormon filiger

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Sucker classified as Critically Endangered?
Sucker is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. 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.
Where does Sucker live?
Sucker occurs in Åland Islands, Albania, Australia, Belgium, Canada, and Croatia (plus 29 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Sucker?
The main threats to Sucker are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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