Myxine mccoskeri

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.