New Zealand Freshwater Fish

11004-00101 Pouched lamprey, or piharau (Geotria australis) sexually mature adult male. Once they have returned from the sea, adults can spend up to 16 months in freshwater before spawning. Incredibly, during this time they do not feed, but survive on their body tissue. By the time they are sexually mature they have become brown in colour, and males like this one, develop a pouch. Okuti River, Canterbury *

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11004-00101 Pouched lamprey, or piharau (Geotria australis) sexually mature adult male. Once they have returned from the sea, adults can spend up to 16 months in freshwater before spawning. Incredibly, during this time they do not feed, but survive on their body tissue. By the time they are sexually mature they have become brown in colour, and males like this one, develop a pouch. Okuti River, Canterbury *

Lamprey 00101 geotria australis male pouch sucking disk