Lampetra ninae (Naseka, Tuniyev & Renaud, 2009)

Lampetra ninae View in CoL View Figure

Common name. Caucasian brook lamprey.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from L. lanceolata by: ● posterial teeth usually present in interrupted or complete rows, 4–23 unicuspid and bicuspid teeth. Size up to 166 mm TL in adults, slightly longer in ammocoetes.

Distribution View Figure . Caucasian Black Sea basin of Russia and Georgia: Shakhe, Mzymta, and Chakhtsutsyr drainages south to Bzyb’ and Mokva in Abkhazia ( Georgia) south to the border between Georgia and Türkiye.

Habitat. Foothills zones in clear, well-oxygenated brooks. Ammocoetes live in detritus-rich sands or clay sediments.

Biology. Nonpredatory, freshwater resident. Metamorphose in autumn. Spawning biology unknown but suspected to be identical to L. lanceolata , which overwinters and spawns in spring.

Conservation status. LC; still common and widespread within its small range.

Remarks. Described as a species of the Arctic genus Lethenteron . Molecular studies indicate that it is very closely related to L. lanceolata . Both may be conspecific, and further research is needed.

Further reading. Lang et al. 2009 (generic position); Naseka et al. 2009 (description); Naseka et al. 2016 (description, distribution).