[ noun ] primitive eellike freshwater or anadromous cyclostome having round sucking mouth with a rasping tongue <noun.animal>
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}.] (Zo["o]l.) 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}.]
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.
But the goby doesn't appear threatening, unlike a host of other invaders, including the water pipe-clogging zebra mussel, the trout-killing sea lamprey, and the beach-befouling alewife.
Flows of tributaries to the Great Lakes are so low biologists cannot safely apply chemicals to control lamprey, which prey on lake trout.
The panel also set aside $1.4 million to combat the sea lamprey, another Great Lakes pest.
Biologists first went after the lamprey, lacing its spawning grounds with a chemical that killed its larvae.