Lamprey Marks on Whales

Abstract
Examination of 237 whales caught off the northwest coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, during the summer of 1950 revealed characteristic oval-shaped scars similar to those found on whales from other parts of the world. Some of these scars plainly show tooth marks which demonstrate that they were made by parasitic lampreys. Scars made by Entosphenus tridentatus were found on finback, humpback, sei, and sperm whales. Open pits in the blubber are interpreted as healing stages which succeed the lamprey attacks.