Here's why:
* Lack of Jaws: Lampreys are easily identifiable as jawless fish because they have a circular, sucking mouth with rows of teeth-like structures, but no true jaws.
* Ancient Lineage: Lampreys belong to the most ancient group of vertebrates, known as Agnatha.
* Parasitic Lifestyle: Many lampreys are parasitic, attaching themselves to other fish and sucking their blood.
* Unique Features: They also have a unique eel-like body shape and a single nostril on top of their head.
Other examples of jawless fish include hagfish.