Pacific hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii)

Scientific name: Eptatretus stoutii Lockington, 1878

Pacific hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii)

The Pacific hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii) is a marine fish of the family Myxinidae. Native range: Eastern Pacific, southeastern Alaska to Bahia San Pablo, central Baja California, Mexico.

Biology

Inhabits fine silt and clay bottoms. Enters large fishes by way of the mouth and anus and feed on its viscera and muscles. May greatly diminish catches taken with fixed gears. Produces mucilaginous slime when harassed. Probably exhibits hermaphroditism. Due to its primitive metabolism it is collected for research purposes.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Eptatretus stoutii
Family
Myxinidae (Hagfishes)
Order
Myxiniformes (Hagfishes)
Class
Myxini (Hagfishes)
Maximum length
46.8
Depth range
16–633 m (52–2077 ft)
Environment
Marine; demersal; non-migratory; depth range 16 - 633 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: southeastern Alaska to Bahia San Pablo, central Baja California, Mexico.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec = 28)

More other marine fish

See all other marine fish

Sources

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

Last updated