mordacia

[Lat. mordax (gen it. mordacis ) biting; mordeo =to bite.] Ichthy.: A genus of cyclostomatous fishes, family Petromyzontidae (q.v.). Dorsal fins two, the posterior continuous with the caudal. Maxillary osdentition in two triangular groups, each with three conical acute cusps; two pairs of serrated lingual teeth. One species known, Mordacia mordax , from the coasts of Chili and Tasmania. It is sometimes provided with a gular sac, the physiological func tion of which is unknown. ( Günther.) cis )=biting; mordeo to bite.] mor-da-cio us, a. [Lat. mordax (gen it. morda 1. Biting, sharp, acrid. "Not only sensibly hot, but mordacious and burning." Evelyn: Terra, p. 30. IMG:content-1397.png:[blocks in formation]