Petromyzontidae

plural noun

Pet·​ro·​my·​zon·​ti·​dae
-mīˈzäntəˌdē
: a family of cyclostomes (order Hyperoartia) comprising elongated animals that resemble eels or hagfishes, have no barbels and seven pairs of circular gill openings, and feed on the blood of fishes which they obtain by rasping the flesh with their toothed circular mouth see petromyzon compare lamprey
petromyzontoid
¦⸗⸗⸗¦zän‧ˌtȯid
adjective or noun

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Petromyzont-, Petromyzon, type genus + -idae

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Dictionary Entries Near Petromyzontidae

Cite this Entry

“Petromyzontidae.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Petromyzontidae. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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