This is a deep-sea species living on the lower slopes and abyssal plains at depths from 1,100-2,440 m (Wisner and McMillan 1995). The sex ratio of the specimens examined by Wisner and McMillan (1995) was extremely unbalanced. Of 150 specimens sexed 114 (76%) were females, 35 (23%) hermaphroditic and six (0.4%) males. From 7-15 large eggs, ranging between 17 x 6 mm and 24 x 8 mm, occur in eight females (415-450 mm); all other females have small eggs. The largest number of eggs (15) was in a female of 440 mm.

The copulatory organ is absent in this species. The gonads of hagfishes are situated in the peritoneal cavity. The ovary is found in the anterior portion of the gonad, and the testis is found in the posterior part. The animal becomes female if the cranial part of the gonad develops or male if the caudal part undergoes differentiation. If none develops, then the animal becomes sterile. If both anterior and posterior parts develop, then the animal becomes a functional hermaphrodite. However, hermaphroditism being characterised as functional needs to be validated by more reproduction studies (Patzner 1998).