1. Myxine is found buried in the muddy sea bottom. They are nocturnal feeders, parasitic or quasi-parasitic.
2. Myxine is commonly known as hagfish.
3. Body is eel-like , measuring about 60 cm in length and differentiated into head, trunk and tail.
4. The surface of the body is soft and smooth without scales. Large mucous glands are present opening by mucous pores.
5. The mouth is terminal and surrounded by soft lips and four pairs of short tentacles supported by skeletal rods.
6. Buccal funnel and jaws are absent. Branchial- basket is also reduced.
7. Nostril is single, lies very close to the mouth and opens terminally.
8. Single pineal eye is visible on the top of the head. Paired eyes are vestigial or degenerated due to bottom dwelling habit.
9. Six to fourteen pairs of gills which do not open separately to the outside but open by a single ventral external gill-opening.
10. Single median fin runs from about the middle of the ventral surface extending around the tail region.
11. Hermaphroditic and protandrous with single ovotestis, anterior part being ovary andposterior testis. Eggs are enclosed in horny shell having hooks for attaching with the weeds.
12. Development is direct.
13. Hagfishes are injurious to the fish industry.
Source:
1. Practical Zoology Vertebrates by S.S.Lal . 2. A Manual of Practical Zoology Chordates by Dr. P.S. Verma.
