Vol. 40 No. 4, 2001
Nasal-sinus Papillae of Hagfishes and Their Taxonomic Implications
Hin-Kiu Mok
Institute of Marine Biology, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 80424
Hin-Kiu Mok (2001)
Either a single medial papilla, two medial papillae placed
anteroposteriorly, or a pair of bilaterally symmetric papillae mostly
supported by cartilage occur in the inner dorsal surface of the nasal
sinus near the apex in almost all members of the Myxininae, some
species of Eptatretus, and Paramyxine cheni. A ventral median papilla on the floor of the nasal sinus also occurs in Neomyxine biniplicata, Nemamyxine elongata, and a few Eptatretus and Paramyxine
species. The membrane on the nasal-sinus floor exhibits various
degrees of tightness among hagfish genera. The gross morphology and
distribution of these medial and bilateral papillae on the roof and
folds and papillae on the floor of the nasal sinus in the family
Myxinidae are described and reported. The taxonomic implications of
these structures in the nasal sinus are discussed.
Key words: Myxinidae, Papillae, Nasal sinus.
*Correspondence: E-mail: hinkiu@faculty.nsysu.edu.tw

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