noun
- The larval stage of a lamprey, characterized by a small mouth and lack of teeth, living in freshwater sediment.
Usage: biology; zoology
Examples
- The ammocete burrows in mud and sand at the bottom of streams.
- Ammocetes feed by filtering organic matter from the water.
- Scientists study ammocetes to understand lamprey development.
- The ammocete stage can last several years before metamorphosis.
- Freshwater ecosystems support populations of ammocetes in their sediment.