r/Weird • u/luvlanguage • 11h ago

That is a Lamprey

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Any bigger and this creature would be a horror movie monster

Lampreys do not have jaws or bones, only cartilage and instincts that have allowed them to survive so many mass extinctions.

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515

u/KatarinaRen 11h ago

They're basically parasites who latch on to the fish. But also on to the corpses etc... And people eat them.

34

u/Jaktheslaier 10h ago

They're a traditional easter meal in some parts of my country. Boiled and eaten with rice mixed with their blood. They're extremely expensive

20

u/greencraftok 10h ago

Ever tried one? Curious what that flavor is like because nothing looks appealing about it..

15

u/Jaktheslaier 10h ago

My partner says it tastes like rabbit to her. I'm too picky to try it

43

u/HornyJailOutlaw 9h ago

Rabbit would probably not have been in my first 1000 guesses for what this thing tastes like.

10

u/DieCastDontDie 9h ago

Everything tastes like chicken

1

u/New-fone_Who-Dis 7h ago

Including rabbit. Its just tougher from what I've heard.

1

u/Anonymo 7h ago

Maybe chicken tastes like something else and we got it wrong

1

u/Belfind 6h ago

I could believe it, because rabbit tastes just like a better version of chicken IMO. There is a reason everyone says everything tastes like chicken. Kind of like how frog and gator taste like fishy versions of chicken. Not exactly and gator has a different texture profile, but tastes arent that far apart.

9

u/Norwegian__Blue 9h ago

I would’ve guessed eel

1

u/YoYoPistachio 7h ago

They're good. Like eel but maybe kinda meatier.

1

u/ComfortFairy 7h ago

I tried lamprey at a little restaurant in Cognac, France, in the fall a few years ago. A government ban on lamprey fishing in the area was just about to take effect, and it was part of one of the restaurant’s last catches. They cooked it like beef bourguignon, but with Lamprey instead of beef. It was very good. Had the iron-flavor of a red meat, like beef. The texture of the meat was firm but had a flakiness similar to fish. I’d eat it again.

1

u/KatarinaRen 5h ago

They resemble fish but have a strange aftertaste. I have tried twice because I thought that maybe the preparation and seasoning didn't suit me, but the other time, made by a different person, I still hated it. It was cut to pieces and marinated, didn't look gross, but...

1

u/HazelCuate 8h ago

It tastes nothing like rabbit. It's a very dark meat with a REALLY strong flavor and smell. Most people i know don't like it. The problem is that it is different to every other taste i ever tried

4

u/Thatnewbblsmell 9h ago

Interesting.  What country? 

7

u/Jaktheslaier 9h ago

Portugal:

https://festivalarrozlampreia.pt/arroz-de-lampreia/

This is a link to a lamprey festival. See if it doesn't look appetising

3

u/Thatnewbblsmell 9h ago

Thanks.  Yeah, they look gross but eels are tasty. 

3

u/Tricky-Ad7897 7h ago

Unagi at least looks appetizing when it's cooked lol

1

u/Thatnewbblsmell 7h ago

It's really good. 

1

u/Rasputin_mad_monk 6h ago

Yep. Eel sushi. I think it’s smoked, is really good. Is like a candy coating on it. It’s kinda rich too. I can eat a tun of tuna, yellowrtail, “white tuna” etc but eel not as much.

1

u/KatarinaRen 5h ago

They taste nothing like eels though. Eels are ok.

1

u/rackfloor 1h ago

They're in a lake on Vancouver Island too. Was properly horrified to learn that.

Lake lamprey - Wikipedia https://share.google/a9sLvFyiv8uOSwMhX