First record in Venezuelan waters and second record in the world of Eptatretus ancon (Myxinidae)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25268/bimc.invemar.2026.55.2.1426Keywords:
Myxinids, hagfish, southern Caribbean, ichthyology, deep watersAbstract
The finding of a specimen of Eptatretus ancon, a myxinid species originally described from the Caribbean coast of Colombia and known until now only from its holotype, is documented. The specimen was captured in January 2026 north of Chichiriviche de la Costa, La Guaira
state, Venezuela, at a depth of 551 m, using a fish trap as fishing gear. This discovery constitutes the second worldwide record of the species and the first for Venezuela, extending its known distribution approximately 700 km eastward along the continental slope. Morphometric and meristic data of the specimen are presented and compared with those of the holotype,
confirming its specific identification. This record highlights the importance of exploring the deep habitats of the southern Caribbean and suggests a possible continuous distribution of E. ancon along the continental slope of Colombia and Venezuela.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ángel Rafael Fariña Pestano, Eric Ricardo Martínez Gómez, Ruth Emilia Vásquez Levy
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