Agnatha
9.9
A group of eel-shaped animals without jaws, like lampreys and hagfish
- noun
- /æɡˈnæθə/
- Specialized
:
Agnatha
- Scientists study the Agnatha to understand the evolution of vertebrates.
Examples
-
Agnatha are jawless fish that include species like lampreys and hagfish.
-
Hagfish, Eptatretus spp., of the class Agnatha, family Myxinidae, are among the most primitive and unique of fishes.
Academic text (1993) -
The ancient lineage of Agnatha reveals important information about early fish development.
Synonyms
9.9
A fish-like animal with a backbone and no jaws or paired fins, like lampreys
is the taxonomic group name rather than the term for a single animal
9.7
A long eel-like fish without jaws or paired fins
is similar but names the group without highlighting paired appendage absence
7.0
Fish like lampreys and hagfish that do not have jaws or paired fins
is the broader group term not limited to fish label
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word Agnatha comes from the Greek parts a- meaning 'without' and gnath meaning 'jaw'. So Agnatha literally means 'without jaws' and refers to eel-shaped animals like lampreys and hagfishes that do not have jaws.
