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sea lamprey
noun
: a large anadromous lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) that has a mottled upper surface, is an ectoparasite of fish, and is sometimes used as food
Examples of sea lamprey in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Just a single sea lamprey kills 40 pounds of fish each year, according to the National Ocean Service.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 9 Aug. 2023
Woodworth said there are five migratory fish affected by the dam: American eel, sea lamprey, blueback herring, alewife and American shad.
—Ed Stannard, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2024
But sea lampreys, which live in the northern and western Atlantic Ocean, are among today’s rare, jawless vertebrates.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2024
Then alewives, sea lampreys, Eurasian watermilfoil and others all were introduced into the lake and made their mark.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 2 May 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1879, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near sea lamprey
Cite this Entry
“Sea lamprey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sea%20lamprey. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
sea lamprey
noun
: a lamprey of the Atlantic coast that is also found in the Great Lakes and that attaches to and feeds on other fishes with its round sucking mouth
More from Merriam-Webster on sea lamprey
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sea lamprey
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