1: MYXINIDAE (HAG FISHES)
1.2 Eptatretus octatrema
Barnard,1923
Eightgill hagfish
Agkief -slymslang
Heptatretus octatrema Barnard, 1923: 439 (Agulhas Bank).
Total cusp count ofteeth 40, with anterior 3 in outer row, and anterior
2 in inner row fused at bases. Prebranchiallength 24% total length. Anal
fin starting 8-10 mm behind last gill opening; 102-103 pairs of slime pores.
More slender than the Japanese eightgilled E. okinoseana Dean, 1904.
Only known from the 30 cm holotype caught in 45 - 75 m.
1.3 Eptatretus profundus
Barnard,1923
Fivegill hagfish
Vyfkief-slymslang
Heptatretus profundus Barnard, 1923: 439 (off Cape Point).
Total cusp count of teeth 42, with anterior 3 in outer row, and anterior 2
in inner row fused at bases. Prebranchial length 25% total length. Anal
finfold starting far behind (10 cm) last gill opening. 84 pairs of slime pores.
Only known from the 62 cm holotype caught in 730 m.
36
Genus Myxine Linnaeus, 1758
Seven species; 1 in our area.
Cape hagfish
1.4 Myxine capensis
Regan, 1913
Kaapse slymslang
Myxine capensis Regan, 1913: 398 (Cape of Good Hope); 1913: 229;
Fernholm, 1981: 73. Myxine giutinosa (non Linnaeus): Adam & Strahan,
1963: 3; Hardisty, 1979: 19.
Total cusp count of teeth 36-43, with 2 anterior cusps in each row fused
at bases. Seven pairs of gill pouches; 92-110 pairs of slime pores.
Attains 40 cm. Only known from off Cape of Good Hope
and the west coast in 200 - 460 m.