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Petromyzontidae

plural noun
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Pet·​ro·​my·​zon·​ti·​dae | \ -mīˈzäntəˌdē \

Definition of Petromyzontidae

: a family of cyclostomes (order Hyperoartia) comprising elongated animals that resemble eels or hagfishes, have no barbels and seven pairs of circular gill openings, and feed on the blood of fishes which they obtain by rasping the flesh with their toothed circular mouth — see petromyzon — compare lamprey

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Other Words from Petromyzontidae

petromyzontoid \ ¦⸗⸗⸗¦zän‧ˌtȯid \ adjective or noun

History and Etymology for Petromyzontidae

New Latin, from Petromyzont-, Petromyzon, type genus + -idae

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Cite this Entry

“Petromyzontidae.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Petromyzontidae. Accessed 13 Jun. 2021.

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