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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🌡️ Deep-water

Cortez hagfish

Eptatretus sinus Wisner & McMillan, 1990
Max Length
48.1 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
4.1
Depth
198–1330 m
Climate
Deep-water
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
44.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
deep-water

📖 Overview

Cortez hagfish (Eptatretus sinus) is a ray-finned fish of the family Myxinidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in deep-water environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 48.1 cm. It occurs at depths between 198 and 1330 metres. With a trophic level of 4.1, it is a mid-level predator. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Scientific Name
Eptatretus sinus
Authority
Wisner & McMillan, 1990
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Deep-water
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
48.1 cm
Depth Range
198–1330 m
Trophic Level
4.1
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
44.00/100
Migration
Non-migratory
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

: eel-like.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Cortez hagfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

small fish
crustaceans
cephalopods

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

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; bathydemersal; non-migratory; depth range 198 - 1330 m . Deep-water Central Pacific: Gulf of California.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🌑 Deep Water
Migration
Non-migratory
Trophic Level
4.1±0.7

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00204 × L2.93 (TL)
Max TL
48.1cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2009

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
44.00/100
Moderate vulnerability
Trophic Level
4.1
Apex / Top predator
Climate Zone
Deep-water
Described By
Wisner & McMillan, 1990

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 5 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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