Myxinoidei (Noun)
Meaning
Hagfishes as distinguished from lampreys.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The subclass Myxinoidei encompasses all known species of hagfishes, which are distinguished from lampreys by their eel-like shape and paired gill slits.
- The classification of the Myxinoidei as a distinct group is still a topic of debate among ichthyologists, with some considering them to be closely related to lampreys.
- Unlike lampreys, members of the Myxinoidei have a unique body shape that allows them to burrow into sediment and feed on small invertebrates.
- The jawless characteristic that defines the Myxinoidei is distinct from that of lampreys, which have a sucking orifice surrounding the mouth.
- Research on the phylogenetic relationships between hagfishes and lampreys is ongoing, but current evidence suggests that the Myxinoidei are a distinct lineage within vertebrates.