A New Species of Hagfish (Myxinidae: Eptatretus) Associated with Deep-Sea Coral Habitat in the Western North Atlantic.

Eptatretus lopheliae, new species, is described from three specimens caught at 430-442 m depth in cold-water coral habitat off the southeastern United States. It is diagnosed by elongated tubular nostril, lack of nasal-sinus papillae, five pairs of gill pouches, 3-cusp multicusps in anterior and posterior row of teeth but with variation of 4 cusps in posterior row, 38-41 total cusp count, 19-21 prebranchial slime pores, 88-89 total pores, palatine tooth triangular, and pinkish-orange body color. Eptatretus Iopheliae is a small hagfish species observed, videotaped, and caught in close association with Lophelia pertusa reef habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]