noun
- Plural of cyclostome; jawless fish with a circular mouth, including lampreys and hagfish.
Usage: zoology; technical
Examples
- Cyclostomes are among the most ancient vertebrates, dating back over 360 million years.
- Lampreys and hagfish are the two main groups of living cyclostomes.
- The circular mouth structure of cyclostomes is a distinctive feature that sets them apart from other fish.
- Cyclostomes lack jaws and paired fins, which distinguishes them from modern fish species.
- Marine biologists study cyclostomes to understand the evolution of early vertebrates.