Eptatretus luzonicus Fernholm, Norén, Kullander, Quattrini, Zintzen, Roberts, Mok & Kuo, 2013

Family:  Myxinidae (Hagfishes), subfamily: Eptatretinae
Max. size:  37.3 cm TL (male/unsexed); 56.3 cm TL (female)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 563 - 710 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Western Pacific: known only from the type locality in the Philippines.
Diagnosis:  This species can be distinguished from its known congeners by the following set of characters: gill pouches 8 pairs; 3-cusp multicusps on the anterior sets and 2-cusp multicusps on the posterior sets of cusps; total cusps 47-51; prebranchial pores 13-15; trunk pores 49-55; total pores 84-88; a single nasal-sinus papilla in the middorsal surface of the nasal sinus (Ref. 95645).
Biology:  The holotype was collected from the type locality over green muddy bottom at bottom temperature of 6.8°C, surface water temperature 28.3°C (Anonymous, 1910). Additional specimens from the Verde Island Passage were collected at 578 and 710 m, sediment type ranged from mud to sand (Ref. 95645).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 09 November 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Type localities Eptatretus luzonicus [homonym Eptatretus fernholmi McMillan & Wisner, 2004], 5.1 mi off Atolaya Point, Batag Island, east of the southern end of Luzon Island, USNM 207761 (37.3 cm TL) (Ref. 51420). Additional specimens collected in 2011 from the western part of Verde Island Passage (Ref. 95645).


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