Description

This species differs from all its congeners except five Pacific species (Eptatretus carlhubbsi, Eptatretus cirrhatus, Eptatretus goliath, Eptatretus laurahubbsae, Eptatretus strahani) and two Atlantic Ocean species (Eptatretus caribbeaus, Eptatretus menezesi) by having 7 pairs of gill pouches and three-cusp multicusps on the anterior and posterior rows of cusps. It further differs from these congeners by having the following characters: 10 posterior unicusps (vs. 11-13 in E. carlhubbsi, 7-9 in E. cirrhatus, 11-16 in E. laurahubbsae); 52 total cusps (vs. 54-58 in E. caribbeaus, 61-71 in E. carlhubbsi, 61-68 in E. laurahubbsae); 18-19 prebranchial pores (vs. 13-15 in E. caribbeaus, 12-17 in E. carlhubbsi, 14-15 in E. goliath, 14-17 in E. laurahubbsae, 13-17 in E. menezesi, 13-16 in E. strahani); 5 branchial pores (vs. 6-7 or 6-8 for remaining seven-gilled species); 48-49 trunk pores (vs. 60-70 in E. carlhubbsi, 57-58 in E. goliath, 60-67 in E. laurahubbsae); 83-84 total pores (vs. 93-110 in E. carlhubbsi, 92 in E. goliath, 97-105 in E. laurahubbsae, 86-94 in E. menezesi). In addition, these congeners, except E. caribbeaus, have two bilaterally symmetrical nasal-sinus papillae in the dorsal surface of the nasal sinus, while it is absent in E. astrolabium (Ref. 85154).

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Myxini

Order: Myxiniformes

Family: Myxinidae

Genus: Eptatretus

Species: Eptatretus astrolabium Fernholm & Mincarone, 2010

Climate Zone

Biology

The observation re the 'silty mud bottom’ were the specimen was taken, was inferred from sediment in traps retrieved. The female holotype with several small, rounded eggs, ca. 2 mm diameter; all eggs in the mesentery, which is attached to the body wall (Ref. 85154). Iteroparous (Ref. 94918).

Habitat

bathydemersal

Conservation Status

Data deficient

Threat to Humans

Harmless