Myxine limosa, or Girard's Atlantic hagfish, is a jawless fish in the genus Myxine.[1][2]

Myxine limosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Myxini
Order: Myxiniformes
Family: Myxinidae
Genus: Myxine
Species:
M. limosa
Binomial name
Myxine limosa
Girard, 1859

Description

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The eellike species grows up to 79 centimetres (31 in) long. The color ranges from reddish brown to dark purple. There are no visible eyes. The mouth is surrounded by 6 barbels, and there are 5 or 6 gill pouches on either side, with one exterior connection.[3]

Similar species

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Myxine glutinosa is grayish pink and grows up to 43 cm (17 in) long. North American Eptatretus hagfishes have 5–14 gill pouches, which open independently to the exterior.[3] Petromyzon marinus has 7 pairs of gill pouches, one top nostril, and small visible eyes.[3]

Taxonomy

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The species was described by Charles Frédéric Girard, a French zoologist, in 1859.[4]

Distribution and habitat

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It occurs in the Western Atlantic Ocean, from Baffin Island, Canada, south to North Carolina, at depths of 30–960 metres (98–3,150 ft), sometimes venturing into 30-m-shallow water.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Myxine limosa : fisheries". FishBase. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  2. ^ Girard, Charles (1858). "Ichthyological Notices". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 10: 223–224 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. ^ a b c d Gilbert, Carter R.; Williams, James D. (2002) [1983]. National Audubon Society Field Guide to Fishes (rev. ed.). Knopf. p. 35. ISBN 0-375-41224-7.
  4. ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Myxine limosa Girard, 1859". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2022-12-14.