Imagine a situation where you are an ordinary fish hiding away from predators and try to protect yourself in a hole on the seafloor, often sneaking out to wait for the right moment to escape. However, this doesn’t sound a bit interesting, but it is what it is. And then, some random day, accidentally, you thoroughly soaked in sticky mucus. It is next to impossible to breathe because the snot has fully choked up your gills. Well, the reason behind all this is that you are in big trouble, and your enemy is a Hagfish. It will not only throw you out of the hole but also guzzle you after you are dead.
On The Stroll
Hagfish are ancient eel-shaped, slime-producing creatures in the ocean falling between the fish and worms category. They are usually jawless and can be considered no actual fish and no true invertebrate because they have no vertebral column but a spinal cord. They generally belong from the Animalia kingdom and are also known by their initially scientific name ‘Mixing,’ with over 70 species in the class. From the last 300 million years, the Hagfishes are now often seen more active in hunting. They start the hunting process by searching its prey by looking around holes on the seafloor. However, the Hagfish rely on their ability to touch and smell because they are blind. After finding out the prey, deep down in the caves of the ocean with half of the body lying outside it, they instantly catch the game with its whisker-like barbells and slowly begin swallowing it. During its hunting process, the Hagfish produces slime, sticky mucus that helps in choking the prey, and it starts suffocating by which the Hagfish accomplishes in hunting. The hunting process generally starts by prowling around for the prey by sticking the head deep down into the holes present on the seafloor. The Hagfish rely on their ability to touch and smell because they are blind and take the support of their Whisker-like Barbells present around their mouth. After the prey is finally found, the Hagfish catches the target through their mouth and begins swallowing it with half of their body lying outside in the water and the head stuck in the burrow. The swallowing process starts by pushing out the two plates covered with teeth that brace on and then, after being withdrawn, helping the Hagfish to let the prey enter in their mouth.
Devouring On Decay
With an astonishing ability to absorb nutrients through their skin and gills, Hagfish enter the hole on the seafloor and eat the dead animals from the inside. They also consume food by scavenging and devouring on the decayed. Everything goes well until feasting on the decomposed animal starts creating problems. There released a small amount of oxygen in the water level and numerous amounts of ammonia that is toxic and is produced from rotten flesh. But the Hagfish have some excellent skills to handle that situation too. All the animals present in the ocean except the Hagfish stop consuming nutrients when such a condition arises because the toxic effects of ammonia may exhaust their scant oxygen, and their energy might get entirely devoted to battling up the situation. Thus, ammonia shows no impact on it and their food consumption. It absorbs around six times more amino acid glycine than their usual potential energy through their gills, facing up the situation of Hypoxia, most of which, the amino acid glycine ends up entering their brains thus, resulting in the protection of their neurons from any damage.
Conclusion
There is a significant evolution in all the backboned animals from the last 300 million years, similar to which the Hagfish carries a considerable resemblance to them. With over 70 different species in the ‘Myxini’ family, Hagfish are the most ridiculously unique animals found in the ocean. The thing that makes them unique is that they are blind and rely on their ability to touch and smell. They have no backbone, fall in between the fish and worms category, and usually catch their prey with Whisker-like Barbells around their mouth. In the end, if your enemy is a Hagfish then, it is next to impossible to survive due to the reason they produce slime, sticky mucus that helps them in devouring their prey after they are dead.
Where do Hagfish live? Hagfish can be found in the Pacific ocean.How many hearts does a Hagfish have? A Hagfish have four hearts.What are Hagfish known for? They are usually known for their eel-shaped body and the reason they are unique is that because they are ridiculous. They do not have a vertebral column but a spinal cord.Can a Hagfish kill you? Well, if your enemy is a Hagfish then, it is next to impossible to survive. The reason being the Whisker-like Barbells that help them in swallowing the prey. Moreover, after it is dead, they produce a slime that helps in guzzling their game and protecting themselves from predators.How big is a Hagfish? Talking about the length, the average Hagfish ranges from 30-89 cm. The largest recorded species is Eptatretus Goliath, with a record of 127 cm (4 ft 2 in). On the other hand, Myxine Kuoi and Myxine Pequenoi did seem to manage a length not more than 18 cm. How strong is a Hagfish slime? The Hagfish slime is considered five times stronger than steel. A Hagfish surprisingly needs around 40 milligrams of mucus and protein to produce around a liter of dirt.
