The Jawless Fishes Class Agnatha

• long, eel-like bodies• lack paired fins• cartilage endoskeleton• gill slits with no operculum

(covering)

• no jaws• circular mouths – cannot close• sharp teeth• rasping tongue – tears hole in

prey and sucks out blood and body fluids

• less than 50 species• most primitive fish• skin sold as “eelskin” leather

ExamplesHagfish: • burrow in mud• eat worms or scavenge on dead

& dying fish• have tentacles around their

mouth• protection = slime

ExamplesLampreys: • usually parasitic• great sense of smell to find prey• covered with a poisonous slime•major problem inGreat Lakes