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)
