lamprey Meaning, Definition & Usage
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noun primitive eellike freshwater or anadromous cyclostome having round sucking mouth with a rasping tongue
lamper eel; lamprey eel.
WordNet
Lam"prey noun
Etymology
OE.Wordforms
Definitions
(Zoöl.) An eel-like marsipobranch of the genus Petromyzon , and allied genera. The lampreys have a round, sucking mouth, without jaws, but set with numerous minute teeth, and one to three larger teeth on the palate (see Illust. ofCyclostomi ). There are seven small branchial openings on each side.Written also lamper eel ,lamprel , andlampron .✍ The common or sea lamprey of America and Europe ( Petromyzon marinus ), which in spring ascends rivers to spawn, is considered excellent food by many, and is sold as a market fish in some localities. The smaller river lampreys mostly belong to the genusAmmocoeles , orLampetra , asA. fluviatilis , of Europe, andA. æpypterus of America. All lampreys attach themselves to other fishes, as parasites, by means of the suckerlike mouth.