Epigonichthys hectori

{{Short description|Species of lancelet}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Epigonichthys hectori 209703280.jpg

| genus = Epigonichthys

| species = hectori

| authority = (Benham, 1901)

| synonyms = *Heteropleuron hectori Benham, 1901

}}

Epigonichthys hectori is a species of lancelet in the family Branchiostomatidae.{{Cite web |title=WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Epigonichthys hectori (Benham, 1901) |url=https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=266223 |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=www.marinespecies.org}}{{Cite web |title=Epigonichthys hectori |url=https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Epigonichthys-hectori.html |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=www.sealifebase.se}} The species is the only known lancelet species found in New Zealand, rarely being caught for having specific habitat needs of clean coarse sand. It inhabits these sandy areas around the North Island and northern parts of the South Island at depths up to 55 meters below sea level, with one recent individual being found on the coasts of Urquharts Bay near the Whangārei Heads in 2023 after being stranded in a puddle during low-tide.{{Cite journal |last1=de Gier |first1=Werner |last2=Hubert |first2=Jeroen |date=2023-09-14 |title=Something's Fishy: An Unexpected Intertidal Encounter with the New Zealand Lancelet, Epigonichthys hectori (Benham, 1901), near the Whangarei Heads, NZ |journal=Diversity |language=en |volume=15 |issue=9 |pages=1017 |doi=10.3390/d15091017 |doi-access=free |issn=1424-2818}}