Brown hagfish (Eptatretus atami)

Scientific name: Eptatretus atami Dean, 1904

The Brown hagfish (Eptatretus atami) is a marine fish of the family Myxinidae. Native range: Northwest Pacific, Japan. Notoriously confused with other unnamed species around Japan.

Biology

Gill pouches 6 pairs with gill apertures closely spaced in a fairly straight line; 1-2 GP at end of dental muscle. Ventral aorta splitting at about GP 5-6. Fused cusps 3/3. Total cusps 47-52. Prebranchial slime pores 12-19. Total pores 71-78. Eyespots faint or absent. Ventral finfold low to vestigial.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Eptatretus atami
Family
Myxinidae (Hagfishes)
Order
Myxiniformes (Hagfishes)
Class
Myxini (Hagfishes)
Maximum length
61.0
Depth range
300–536 m (984–1759 ft)
Environment
Marine; bathydemersal; non-migratory; depth range 300 - 536 m
Climate
Deep-water
Distribution
Northwest Pacific: Japan. Notoriously confused with other unnamed species around Japan.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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