Inshore hagfish

The inshore hagfish (Eptatretus burgeri) is a hagfish of the genus Eptatretus.

The inshore hagfish is found in the Northwest Pacific, from the Sea of Japan and across eastern Japan to Taiwan. It has six pairs of gill pouches and gill apertures.

These hags are found in the sublittoral zone. They live usually buried in the bottom mud and migrate into deeper water to spawn. The inshore hagfish is the only member of the Myxinidae family having a seasonal reproductive cycle.

Usually hagfish are not eaten, but this particular species is valued as food in the Korean Peninsula and among the Koreans in Japan. It is known as Pú Shì Nián Máng Mán (布氏粘盲鰻, 無目鰻, 蒲氏粘盲鰻, 青眠鰻, 龍筋, 鰻背) in Mandarin, kkomjangeo (꼼장어) or meokjangeo (먹장어) in Korean, and Nuta-unagi in Japanese,

The hide of this hagfish is processed into "eel skin" in Korea and exported worldwide.