inshore hagfish; Eptatretus burgeri
A species of hagfish found in coastal waters of East Asia. The name is usually written in katakana.
The inshore hagfish is a primitive fish found in the seas around Japan.
Rarely used kanji form.
The name likely derives from ぬた (nuta, a type of wetland or muddy place) and うなぎ (unagi, eel), referring to its eel-like appearance and habitat. The exact origin is uncertain.