A New Western Atlantic Species of Five-Gilled Hagfish (Myxinidae: Eptatretus) from the Bahamas
A new species of the hagfish genus Eptatretus (Myxinidae) is described based on a single female specimen, 296 mm total length, collected from the Bahamas, off southern Grand Bahama Island, Northwest Providence Channel, between depths of 560 and 591 m. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by having five pairs of well-spaced gill apertures arranged in a nearly straight line, a 3/2 multicusp pattern of teeth, 54 total tooth cusps, 18 prebranchial slime pores, 4–5 branchial pores, 47–49 trunk pores, 82–85 total pores, and two bilaterally symmetrical nasal-sinus papillae. We also discuss the taxonomy of a specimen from Suriname provisionally named as Eptatretus sp. by Shimizu. A distribution map and an updated identification key for all species of Eptatretus and Rubicundus from the western Atlantic are provided.
Eptatretus bahamensis, new species, holotype, SIO 76-252, female, 296 mm TL, The Bahamas, off southern Grand Bahama Island, Northwest Providence Channel, 26°07.0′N, 78°34.1–36.6′W, 560–591 m depth. Scale bar = 10 mm.
Eptatretus bahamensis, new species, holotype, SIO 76-252, 296 mm TL. Anterior and posterior row of teeth (right series) and palatine tooth. Scale bar = 1 mm.
Eptatretus bahamensis, new species, holotype, SIO 76-252, 296 mm TL. Ventral view of branchial area. Anterior toward top. Abbreviations: GA—gill aperture; PCD—pharyngocutaneous duct. Scale bar = 5 mm (by Gerson Machado Filho).
Distribution of the species of Eptatretus and Rubicundus from the western Atlantic, highlighting the type locality of Eptatretus bahamensis, new species. Some symbols may represent more than one collection site. Abbreviations: FG—French Guiana; Hai.—Haiti; Hon.—Honduras; Nic.—Nicaragua; PR—Puerto Rico; Sur.—Suriname.
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