Life History
Like all lampreys, I. greeleyi has a distinct larval (ammocoete) and adult phase in their life cycles. However, it lacks the juvenile period that parasitic lampreys have. While the parasitic lampreys attach to a host after metamorphosis, the non-parasitic lampreys move upstream if at all instead of inhabiting an entirely new habitatc. I. greeleyi remains a ammocoete for about 5–6 years (Beamish and Austin). After metamorphosis, which takes about 100–140 days (Beamishi and Medland), the non-parasitic lamprey breeds, and dies shortly after. The spawning period is from approximately May 19 through May 26.The breeding habitat includes under stones just above swift riffles and throughout slow to moderate riffles. Males make nests by grabbing stones with their buccal disk and moving them a few inches away. This causes the silt to be washed away leaving a nest about 8-10 inches in diameter and 2 inches deep. Many males help in the making of one nest. Each nest can contain from 5 to 9 adult individuals. Almost all nests are located just downstream of a small, flat stone 6-12 inches in diameter. The breeding act consists of a female being seized by the back of the head by a male and the two shaking until the gametes are released (Raney).
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