Common Name
McCosker's Hagfish
Year Described
Wisner & McMillan, 1995
Identification
Slime Pores
Prebranchial: 22-27
Branchial: 0
Trunk: 43-53
Tail: 9-14
Total: 77-92
Anterior unicusps: 6-9
Posterior unicusps: 7-10
Total cusps: 36-48
Tooth formula: 3/2
Body anguilliform and cylindrical. There are normally five gill pouches. No branchial pores (present in Eptratretus). Ventral finfold variably developed. Caudal finfold well developed.
Color
Body in preservative medium to dark brown with a paler head. Ventrum pale under slime pores. Margin of gill aperture white. Finfolds tend to be body colored.
Size
Maximum size to 28.6cm TL.
Habitat
Taken on soft bottoms from 439-1174m.
Range
Known from the S. Caribbean Sea from Panama to Suriname.
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.