agnathan

9.9

A fish-like animal with a backbone and no jaws or paired fins, like lampreys

noun
/ˈæɡnəθən/

Specialized

: agnatano

The agnathan is an ancient fish that lacks jaws and paired fins.

Examples

Unlike other fish, the agnathan feeds by suction, using its round mouth.
However, this reproductive mode is exhibited by some species of all vertebrate classes except the jawless fishes (agnathans) and the birds.

Academic text (1993)
Researchers are studying the agnathan to understand its unique evolutionary traits.

Synonyms

jawless fish

vsagnathan

Specialized

1 7.0

Fish like lampreys and hagfish that do not have jaws or paired fins

is broader, including animals without jaws beyond only true fishes

Agnatha

vsagnathan

Specialized

1 9.9

A group of eel-shaped animals without jaws, like lampreys and hagfish

refers to the individual eel-shaped animal rather than the whole taxonomic group

jawless vertebrate

vsagnathan

Specialized

9.7

A long eel-like fish without jaws or paired fins

is the scientific name used for that identical animal

Surface Forms

agnathan singular

agnathans plural

Morphology

agnathan = a + gnath + an

Although the negative prefix 'a-' is recognizable, the core 'gnath' is a Greek combining form (not a common English word), so learners cannot derive the meaning from familiar English bases.

Etymology

Agnathan comes from Greek parts a- 'without' and gnath 'jaw'. So an agnathan is a jawless, eel-like animal with a backbone, such as lampreys and hagfish.