Eptatretus hexatrema (Müller, 1836)
Sixgill hagfish
photo by SFSA

Family:  Myxinidae (Hagfishes), subfamily: Eptatretinae
Max. size:  80 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 10 - 400 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Southeast Atlantic: known only from Walvis Bay, Namibia to Durban, South Africa.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Commonly burrows in muddy bottoms (Ref. 27121). Feeds mostly by scavenging on dead or disabled fish (Ref. 27121). It is parasitised by the monogenean Myxinidocotyle eptatreti on the body surface (Ref. 124056).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 November 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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