Cyclostomata (Noun)
Meaning
Primitive jawless aquatic vertebrate: lampreys; hagfishes.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The class Cyclostomata represents some of the most ancient living vertebrates, with fossil records dating back to the Early Devonian period.
- Cyclostomata are jawless aquatic vertebrates characterized by a suction-feeding mechanism and mostly parasitic or detritivorous feeding habits.
- Some researchers have questioned the monophyly of Cyclostomata due to several differences between the two main groups, lampreys and hagfishes.
- The simple, eel-like body shape is shared by all members of the Cyclostomata class, including various species of lampreys and hagfishes.
- Cyclostomata exhibit some of the most distinctive features among aquatic vertebrates, such as the use of rasping tongue-like structures to capture prey.