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Distribution: The Atlantic hagfish is known on both sides of the Atlantic ocean. In Norway, it can be found as far north as Finnmark, usually deeper than 15-20. Registrations have been made as deep as 1300 meters. The Atlantic hagfish prefers soft substrate where it can burry itself when frightened by divers or other potential enemies.

Characteristics: The body is long and slender like an eel. A single fin appears to run along the body, all the way around the tail. This is not a fin however, but a rather a skin fold. The skin is scale less. A small, star-shaped mouth is placed under the head. Around the mouth there are four barbels or tentacles. The pink colored body may reach a length of 60 cm.

All pictures:

Phylum: Chordata

Superclass: Agnatha

Class: Myxini

Order: Myxiniformes

Family: Myxinidae

Scientific name: Myxine glutinosa

 

Norwegian: slimål

(Korsvika - The Trondheim fjord / 20 meters / 1.19.2004)