Myxine fernholmi

Common Name

Fernholm's Hagfish

Year Described

Wisner & McMillan, 1995

Identification

Slime Pores
Prebranchial: 23-26
Branchial: 0
Trunk: 80-83
Tail: 7-9
Total: 113-121

Anterior unicusps: 6-7
Posterior unicusps: 6-7
Total cusps: 34-37
Tooth formula: 3/2

Body anguilliform and cylindrical. There are normally six gill pouches. No branchial pores (present in Eptratretus). Ventral and caudal finfolds well developed.

Color

Body, head, and caudal finfold uniformly pale brown. Gill aperture and ventral finfold pale whitish.

Size

Maximum size to 85cm TL.

Habitat

Taken on soft bottoms from 135-400m.

Range

Known from the region around the Falklands Islands. Not collected on continental coasts and restricted to insular slopes.

References

Mincarone, M. M. 2007. Revisao Taxonomica da Familia Myxinidae Rafinesque, 1814 (Myxiniformes). Tese de Doutorado, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.

Wisner, R. L. & McMillan, C. B. 1995. Review of new world hagfishes of the genus Myxine (Agnatha, Myxinidae) with descriptions of nine new species. Fishery Bulletin 93: 530-550.