Family: Myxinidae, Hagfishes view all from this family
Description To 31" (79 cm). Eel-like, elongate, cylindrical. Reddish brown to blackish purple to grayish pink. Eyes rudimentary, not visible; 6 barbels around mouth; 5–6 gill pouches on each side; 1 exterior connection to gill pouches. No paired fins; caudal fin slightly rounded, composed of skin fold.
Similar Species North American hagfishes in genus Eptatretus have 5–14 gill pouches on each side opening independently to exterior. Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) also lacks paired fins and scales, but has 7 pairs of gill pouches opening to exterior, 1 nostril on top of head, and small but functional eyes.
Habitat Over mud at depths of 98–3,150' (30–960 m).
Range Baffin Island, Canada, to NC.
Discussion Although most species of the genus Myxine live, on average, in slightly deeper water than the other genera of hagfishes, Atlantic Hagfish is exceptional in that it occasionally ventures into shallow water, within 98' (30 m) of the surface. There is some debate as to whether the intimately related Eastern Atlantic population of Atlantic Hagfish (often known as M. glutinosa) is the same species as M. limosa. The Eastern Atlantic Hagfish reaches a length of about 17" (43 cm) and is consistently grayish pink.
