The hagfishes comprise a uniform group of some 60 species inhabiting the cool or deep parts of the oceans of both hemispheres. They are considered the most primitive representatives of the group of craniate chordates, which - apart from the hagfishes that show no traces of verte brae -includes all vertebrate animals. Consequently the hagfishes have played and still playa central role in discussions concerning the evolution of the vertebrates. Although most of the focus on hagfishes may be the result of their being primitive, it should not be forgotten that, at the same time, they are specialized animals with a unique way of life that is interesting in its own right. It is now more than 30 years since a comprehensive treatise on hagfishes was published. The Biology of Myxine, edited by Alf Brodal and Ragnar Fange (Universitetsforlaget, Oslo, 1963), provided a wealth of information on the biology of hagfishes, and over the years remained a major source of information and inspiration to students of hagfishes.
Reviews
'... a mine of information on many aspects of hagfish biology. It succeeds because of its breadth and because of the consistent approach of the authors... highly recommended as a summary of current knowledge... belongs in every serious library and on the shelf of comparative vertebrate biologists.' Copeia, 3 (2000)
Authors and Affiliations
Department of Zoophysiology Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Aarhus, Denmark
Jørgen Mørup Jørgensen,
Jens Peter Lomholt,
Roy E. Weber,
Hans Malte
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: The Biology of Hagfishes
Authors: Jørgen Mørup Jørgensen, Jens Peter Lomholt, Roy E. Weber, Hans Malte