Three new species of hagfishes, Genus Eptatretus (Cyclostomata, Myxinidae), from the Pacific coast of North America, with new data on E. deani and E. stoutii

Three new species of the genus Eptatretus-E. mcconnaugheyi , from off Southern California and Northern Baja California, and an isolated population in the southern portion of the Gulf of California; E. fritzi , known only from the immediate vicinity of Guadalupe Island, Mexico; and E. sinus , confined to the midriff area of the Gulf of California--are described. New data are presented for E. deani and E. stoutii . A neotype is designated for E. stoutii . Despite the extensive ranges of E. deani (southeastern Alaska to Guadalupe Island, Mexico) and E. stoutii (Vancouver Island, Canada, to Pt. San Pablo, similar to 80 miles southerly from Cedros Island, Mexico), no appreciable differences were found in counts and body proportions within each species. However, the disjunct populations of E. mcconnaugheyi display significant differences (P > 0.001) in numbers of trunk and total slime pores; in all other characters the two populations are very similar. Sex ratios for 4 of the spp are notable uneven, ranging between 60% and 74% female, 26% and 40% male. The sex ratio for E. stoutii is essentially even, 49% female and 51% male.