Amazing new hagfish behaviour
By: Mark McGrouther, Category: Science, Date: 09 Nov 2011
Hagfishes are incredible! They can stop a would-be predator within seconds with a mouthful of slime. Ichthyologists at the National Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa) have just published a fascinating paper on hagfish behaviour in the journal Nature.
Broadgilled Hagfish teeth
Carl Struthers
© Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The movies below, show hagfishes 'sliming' would-be predators to avoid being eaten, and actively hunting a bandfish. The full Nature paper can be downloaded as a pdf.
Also view footage of a hagfish exuding slime in 'Who's the slimiest fish of all'.
Tags fishes, ichthyology, hagfish, Broadgill Hagfish, Eptatretus cirrhatus, Myxinidae,
Related images
A Broadgilled Hagfish caught off Coffs Harbour View full size
David Greenhalgh
© Australian Museum
Lateral view of a Broadgilled Hagfish head View full size
David Greenhalgh
© Australian Museum
Gill openings of a Broadgilled Hagfish View full size
David Greenhalgh
© Australian Museum