Wisner and McMillan- Three new Eptstretus species from North American Pacific coast 



789 



Figure 3 



Mature eggs of holotv^ie oi E. mcconnaugheyi showing )'« situ ar- 

 rangement and connections by anchor filaments (terminal hooks). 



Otlier features used are: 



Preocular length From center of left eyespot to 



center of rostrum. 

 Barbel length From crease at mesial base to tip of 



barbel. 



Collection data and deposition of specimens are listed 

 for each species. All specimens were taken on bottom, 

 with a trap or trawl, except for two of £■. stoutii taken 

 by scuba divers near San Diego. Institutions which have 

 provided study material, or in which type specimens 

 are deposited, are SIO, CAS, LACM, MCZ, USNM, 

 OSUO, BCPM, and UW. These symbolic institutional 

 codes follow the usages in Leviton et al. 1985. 



We introduce length of barbel as a systematic char- 

 acter. Barbels have not been used in the taxonomy of 

 hagfishes except for the presence, absence, or degree 

 of pigmentation between bases and tips. No tabular 

 comparison of lengths has previously appeared in print, 

 perhaps due to the small numbers of specimens avail- 

 able. However, in this study a total of 2613 measure- 

 ments of length of first nasal barbel, left side, provided 

 material for comparison. Data in Table 6, first barbel 

 length for 25-mm increments of total length, show sig- 

 nificant differences in lengths within the five species 

 treated. 



Key to species of Eptatretus of the 

 Pacific coast of North America 



la Prebranchial length usually less than 

 branchial length, very rarely equal to or 

 even slightly greater. Tail length always 



less than branchial length 



E. mcconnaugheyi n. sp. 



lb Prebranchial and tail lengths always 



greater than branchial length 2 



Figure 4 



Sketch of branchial area, ventral view, of a hagfish (Eptatretus) 

 delineating Areas I, II, and III. referred to in counts of gill pouches 

 for each Area given in Table 8. (1) DM, posterior portion; (2) left 

 branch of VA; (3) gill pouch; (4) point of branching of VA; (5) VA; 

 (6) ventricle. 



2a Prebranchial slime pores 7(4-10). Ventral 

 finfold weakly developed, often vestigial 

 or absent. Barbels small, not robust. 

 Color dark purplish brown E. deani 



2b Prebranchial slime pores 12-17. Ventral 

 finfold variably well developed to absent. 

 Barbels variably large to small. Color 

 purplish to light or dark reddish brown 3 



3a All barbels large, robust. Third barbel 

 49%(42-59%) of preocular length. Pre- 

 branchial slime pores 12-13(10-15). Bran- 

 chial apertures 11(10-12). Ventral finfold 

 very weakly developed, usually absent. 

 Color dark purplish brown E. fritzi n. sp. 



3b All barbels small, not robust. Third 



barbel 34%(31-37%) of preocular length. 

 Prebranchial slime pores 13-17. Ventral 

 finfold either prominent, vestigal or ab- 

 sent. Branchial apertures 10-14. Color 

 dark brown to light reddish brown 4 



