Eptatretus grouseri McMillan, 1999
Grouser's hagfish

Family:  Myxinidae (Hagfishes), subfamily: Eptatretinae
Max. size:  37.8 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 648 - 722 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Southeast Pacific: endemic in Galapagos Islands.
Diagnosis:  This species is distinguished from its congeners except E. aceroi, E. profundus, E. wandoensis, E. wayuu by the number of gill apertures arranged in a straight line, 5 pairs (6 in one specimen of E. grouseri); 3/2 multicusp pattern of teeth; differs from these five-gilled congeners by having: total cusps 44-48 (vs. 58 in E. aceroi, 40-43 in E. wandoensis, 41-43 in E. wayuu); prebranchial pores 11-12 (vs. 44 in E. aceroi, 14-18 in E. wandoensis, 24 in E. wayuu); trunk pores 42-48 (vs. 107 in E. aceroi, 48-51 in E. profundus, 38-40 in E. wayuu); tail pores 13-15 (9-11 in E. wandoensis); total pores 71-79 (vs. 174 in E. aceroi, 81-86 in E. profundus) (Ref. 123790). Description: Ventral finfold vestigial; caudal finfold well developed (Ref. 31788).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 September 2022 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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