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Glite Dictionary
Petromyzon

Petromyzon

9.9
A fish without jaws that has a round sucker mouth and often attaches to other fish
  • noun
  • /ˌpɛtrəˈmaɪzən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Petromyzon
  • The Petromyzon is known for its circular, sucker-like mouth used to attach to other fish.

Examples

  • Larval stages of Petromyzon can spend several years buried in riverbeds before maturing.

  • The Petromyzon is often found in freshwater rivers.

  • Biologists have studied Petromyzon to understand the evolution of vertebrates.

  • Many Petromyzons inhabit the coastal waters of North America.

  • Biologists have studied Petromyzon to understand the evolution of jawless fish in aquatic environments.

  • Larval stages of Petromyzon can spend several years buried in riverbeds before they grow into adults.

  • The Petromyzon is characterized by its distinctive sucker-like mouth, which it uses to cling to other fish in the water.

Synonyms

lamprey
vsPetromyzon
9 9.0

A thin eel-like fish with no jaws that attaches to other fish to feed

is the scientific genus name for that group of jawless fishes
lamprey eel
vsPetromyzon
8.3

A long fish without jaws with a round mouth that sucks blood from fish in rivers or seas

is the genus name and typical scientific term rather than the compound label

Compounds

Petromyzon marinus
  • Specialized
9.9

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

Surface Forms

Petromyzon singular
Petromyzons plural

Etymology

Petromyzon comes from Greek parts petro- 'rock' and -myzon 'to suck', so it can be thought of as a 'rock-sucker'. This is a helpful image because lampreys have a round, sucker-like mouth and often cling to rocks or other fish, which explains the name.