Sixgill hagfish
📖 Overview
Commonly burrows in muddy bottoms . Feeds mostly by scavenging on dead or disabled fish . It is parasitised by the monogenean Myxinidocotyle eptatreti on the body surface .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
: eel-like.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Sixgill hagfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Sixgill hagfish is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Copulatory organ absent. The gonads of hagfishes are situated in the peritoneal cavity. The ovary is found in the anterior portion of the gonad, and the testis is found in the posterior part. The animal becomes female if the cranial part of the gonad develops or male if the caudal part undergoes differentiation. If none develops, then the animal becomes sterile. If both anterior and posterior parts develop, then the animal becomes a functional hermaphrodite. However, hermaphroditism being characterised as functional needs to be validated by more reproduction studies .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; demersal; non-migratory; depth range 10 - 400 m , usually 10 - 45 m . Subtropical; 23°S - 35°S Southeast Atlantic: known only from Walvis Bay, Namibia to Durban, South Africa.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bdellostoma heterotrema | Müller | 1836 | Synonym |
| Bdellostoma hexatrema | Müller | 1836 | Synonym |
| Heptatretus hexatrema | Müller | 1836 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 3 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Sixgill hagfish ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.