Southern Hagfish [Eptatretus cirrhatus]
Description
The Southern Hagfish, scientifically known as Eptatretus cirrhatus, is a species of hagfish. It is typically found in the Southern Hemisphere, specifically in the southwestern Pacific Ocean around New Zealand. This species generally lives at depths of around 50-1050 meters. Southern Hagfish are characterized by their elongated, eel-like bodies, and they lack jaws, as well as paired fins. They are notable for their ability to produce copious amounts of slime when disturbed. This species is primarily scavengers, feeding on dead and dying fish and invertebrates on the ocean floor.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Hagfish
Myxini
|
| Order |
Hagfishes
Myxiniformes
|
| Family |
Hagfishes
Myxinidae
|
| Genus |
Southern Hagfish
Paramyxine
|