lamprey eel

2 definitions found

lamprey eel - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Lamprey \Lam"prey\ (l[a^]m"pr[y^]), n.; pl. Lampreys
     (l[a^]m"pr[i^]z). [OE. lampreie, F. lamproie, LL. lampreda,
     lampetra, from L. lambere to lick + petra rock, stone. The
     lampreys are so called because they attach themselves with
     their circular mouths to rocks and stones, whence they are
     also called rocksuckers. See Lap to drink, Petrify.]
     (Zool.)
     An eel-like marsipobranch of the genus Petromyzon, and
     allied genera; called also lamprey eel and lamper eel.
     The lampreys have a round, sucking mouth, without jaws, but
     set with numerous minute teeth, and one to three larger teeth
     on the palate (see Illust. of Cyclostomi). There are seven
     small branchial openings on each side. [Written also
     lamprel, and lampron.]
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The common or sea lamprey of America and Europe
           (Petromyzon marinus), which in spring ascends rivers
           to spawn, is considered excellent food by many, and is
           sold as a market fish in some localities. The smaller
           river lampreys mostly belong to the genus
           Ammoc[oe]les, or Lampetra, as Ammoc[oe]les fluviatilis
           , of Europe, and Ammoc[oe]les [ae]pypterus
            of America. All lampreys attach
           themselves to other fishes, as parasites, by means of
           the suckerlike mouth.
           [1913 Webster]

lamprey eel - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  lamprey eel
      n 1: primitive eellike freshwater or anadromous cyclostome
           having round sucking mouth with a rasping tongue [syn:
           lamprey, lamprey eel, lamper eel]