Parasitic sea lamprey ( " Petromyzon marinus ", alewife ( " Alosa pseudoharengus " ) and rainbow smelt ( " Osmerus mordax " ), in particular, have been implicated in their demise, and are believed to have stressed populations to the extent that previously sustainable levels of exploitation became unsustainable.
12.
Off Iceland, 45.2 per cent ( 85 of 188 ) of sampled minke whales bore old scars from attacks by the sea lamprey " Petromyzon marinus ", while a further 10.6 per cent had fresh scars on the posterior part of their flanks; five were found with live lampreys still clinging to their flesh.
13.
The mucus and serum of several lamprey species, including the Caspian lamprey ( " Caspiomyzon wagneri " ), river lampreys ( " Lampetra fluviatilis " and " L . planeri " ), and sea lamprey ( " Petromyzon marinus " ), are known to be toxic, and require thorough cleaning before cooking and consumption.
