also: うみやつめ
sea lamprey
Refers specifically to the species Petromyzon marinus, a parasitic lamprey found in marine and freshwater environments.
The sea lamprey attaches itself to other fish and sucks their bodily fluids.
Hiragana spelling, also used.
Kanji spelling exists but is rarely used; the katakana form is strongly preferred.
From 海 (umi, 'sea') + 八目 (yatsume, 'eight eyes'), referring to the lamprey's gill openings that resemble eyes. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.