Petromyzon marinus

9.9

A large eel-like fish that moves from sea into rivers to attach to and feed on other fish, sometimes eaten

noun
/ˌpɛtrəˈmaɪzən ˈmɛrɪnəs/

Specialized

: Petromyzon marinus

The invasion of Petromyzon marinus drastically altered the fish populations in the Great Lakes.

Examples

In some European countries, Petromyzon marinus is considered a delicacy when cooked.
Scientists have studied the life cycle of Petromyzon marinus to better control its numbers.
The Petromyzon marinus is often found in the Great Lakes.
Have you ever seen a Petromyzon marinus in the wild?
In some European countries, Petromyzon marinus is considered a delicacy when cooked.
The invasion of Petromyzon marinus drastically altered the fish populations in the Great Lakes.
Scientists have studied the life cycle of Petromyzon marinus to better control its numbers.

Synonyms

sea lamprey

vsPetromyzon marinus

Specialized

1 7.5

A large fish without jaws that attaches to other fish and feeds on them

is the scientific Latin name used in formal or research contexts

Surface Forms

Petromyzon marinus singular

Petromyzon marini plural

Morphology

Petromyzon + marinus

The binomial is compositionally analyzable: 'Petromyzon' denotes a jawless fish and 'marinus' (Latin root seen in English 'marine') signals a sea-related form, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it refers to a marine lamprey. However, the full encyclopedic sense (specific species, anadromous behavior, ecological impact) is technical and not predictable from the parts alone, and 'marinus' is more a learned Latin/derivational element than a common English word, so comprehension is only partial.

Etymology

Petromyzon marinus comes from old words: petro- meaning 'rock' and -myzon meaning 'to suck', plus marinus meaning 'of the sea'. This gives a simple image of a sea lamprey with a round sucking mouth that sticks to fish, so the name fits the animal and helps explain why it can harm other fish.