also: うみやつめ
noun
sea lamprey
Refers specifically to the species Petromyzon marinus, a parasitic lamprey found in marine and freshwater environments.
ウミヤツメは他の魚に吸い付いて体液を吸う。
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.