Cat

Lamprey

Lampreys (sometimes inaccurately called lamprey eels) are an ancient lineage of jawless fish of the order Petromyzontiformes . The adult lamprey is characterized by a toothed, funnel-like sucking mouth. The common name "lamprey" is probably derived from Latin lampetra, which may mean "stone licker" (lambere "to lick" + petra "stone"), though the etymology is uncertain. Lamprey is sometimes seen for the plural form.There are about 38 known extant species of lampreys and around seven known extinct species. They are classified in three families: two species-poor families in the Southern Hemisphere (Geotriidae, Mordaciidae) and one speciose family in the Northern Hemisphere; (Petromyzontidae). Genetic evidence suggests that lampreys are more closely related to ha… more »