1. A jawless fish, such as a lamprey or hagfish, belonging to a group of early vertebrates that lack jaws and paired fins.
Usage: zoology; paleontology

1. Of, relating to, or belonging to the agnathans; lacking jaws.
Usage: zoology; paleontology

Examples

• Lampreys are modern examples of agnathans that have survived for millions of years.
• The fossil record shows that agnathans were among the earliest vertebrates to evolve.
• Hagfish, another type of agnathan, are known for their ability to produce slime.
• Agnathan fish lack the jaws and paired fins that characterize most modern fish.
• Scientists study agnathan anatomy to understand the evolution of vertebrate body plans.
• The agnathan group represents a crucial stage in vertebrate evolution before the development of jaws.