Eptatretus hexatrema

Eptatretus hexatrema, the sixgill hagfish, or snotslang is a species of marine fish in the hagfish family (family Myxinidae) of order Myxiniformes. It is native to the South Atlantic Ocean and southwestern Indian Ocean.

Eptatretus hexatrema
Off False Bay, South Africa
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Infraphylum:	Agnatha
Superclass:	Cyclostomi
Class:	Myxini
Order:	Myxiniformes
Family:	Myxinidae
Genus:	Eptatretus
Species:	E. hexatrema
Binomial name
Eptatretus hexatrema (Müller, 1836)
Synonyms[1][2]
Bdellostoma hexatrema Müller 1836 Heptatretus hexatremus (Müller 1836) Hexatrema hexatremum (Müller 1836) Bdellostoma heterotremum Müller 1836 Heterotrema heterotremum (Müller 1836)

Distribution

Southeast Atlantic: known only from Walvis Bay, Namibia to Durban, South Africa^[3]

Description

Maximum recorded length 80.0 cm. Depth of body 15 times total length. Six gill openings. Colour slaty grey. Egg cases ovoid about 30mm long by 12mm wide with anchor filaments at each end.^[4] Eel shaped, with six barbels on the head around the mouth. Epatches form white spots under the skin. Two rows of slime pores under the body.^[5] No paired fins, mouth has no jaws but has two protrusible rows of horny teeth.^[6]

Habitat and behaviour

Non-migratory marine demersal. Depth range 10 – 400 m, usually found between 10 and 45 m. Commonly burrows in muddy bottoms. Feeds mostly by scavenging on dead or disabled fish. Secretes large quantities of slime when provoked.^[6]

Importance to humans

No commercial value, considered a pest by fishermen.

Conservation status

Least concern

Name

Etymology: Eptatretus: Greek, epta = seven + Greek, tretos = with holes. hexatrema: ? .

Common names: sixgill hagfish, snotslang

Synonyms: Bdellostoma hexatrema Müller, 1836. Heptatretus hexatrema (Müller, 1836)^[7]