Showing posts tagged hagfish
Pacific Hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii) Photograph by Ken Lucas, Visuals Unlimited/Getty Images The hagfish, also known as the slime eel, is a primitive bottom-dweller with no jaws, teeth, or stomach. The animal lacks even true eyes but it does have an incredible, and somewhat disgusting, defense mechanism.When threatened, the hagfish secretes copious amounts of ropy, sticky, slippery, and snotty slime.This protein-and-sugar-based ooze is an unappetizing deterrent to predators. When the danger has passed, the hagfish cleans up by tying itself in a simple overhand knot and pulling its body through—scraping it clean. (via: National Geo) View high resolution

Pacific Hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii)

Photograph by Ken Lucas, Visuals Unlimited/Getty Images

The hagfish, also known as the slime eel, is a primitive bottom-dweller with no jaws, teeth, or stomach. The animal lacks even true eyes but it does have an incredible, and somewhat disgusting, defense mechanism.When threatened, the hagfish secretes copious amounts of ropy, sticky, slippery, and snotty slime.This protein-and-sugar-based ooze is an unappetizing deterrent to predators. When the danger has passed, the hagfish cleans up by tying itself in a simple overhand knot and pulling its body through—scraping it clean.

(via: National Geo)

Pacific Hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii)

Hagfish have elongated, eel-like bodies (though they are not eels), and paddle-like tails. They have cartilaginous skulls (without jaws) and tooth-like structures composed of keratin. Colors depend on the species, ranging from pink to blue-grey, and may have black or yellow spots. Eyes may be vestigial.

(Though they are vertebrates, they are very different from bony fishes, being much more primitive.)

When captured and held by the head, they escape by secreting the fibrous slime, which turns into a thick and sticky gel when combined with water, and then cleaning off by tying themselves in an overhand knot which works its way from the tail to the head of the animal, scraping off the slime as it goes. Hagfish enter both living and dead fish, feeding on the insides. While having no ability to enter through skin, they often enter through natural openings such as the mouth, gills or anus and consume their prey from the inside out…

(read more: Oregon Coast Aquarium)

National Science Foundation: Hagfish Discoveries

An international team of scientists has identified the first reproductive hormone in the hagfish, a primitive jawless fish. 

This research sheds new light on evolutionary divergent processes involving reproduction and growth. The finding provides critical evidence for the existence of a pituitary-gonadal system in the earliest divergent vertebrate.

Just as their name suggests, hagfish are unlikely to win any beauty contests in the animal kingdom. However, what they lack in aesthetics they make up for in evolutionary simplicity. Lacking both jaws and vertebrae, hagfish are among the most primitive chordates known, living or extinct. They have long been the enigma of vertebrate evolution, not only because of their evolutionary position but because there are many questions about fundamental hagfish processes such as maturation and reproduction…

(read more: Research.gov)

A group of hagfish congregate next to a scallop. This image was captured by HabCam, an optical imaging endeavor by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, that provides researchers with a one-of-a-kind glimpse of the seafloor. The “Cam” part of HabCam is a camera system that is towed over the ocean bottom along the continental shelf (where a continent drops off under the ocean) off the East Coast of the United States… (read more) (via: OurAmazingPlanet) ______________________________ find out more about hagfish: http://rhamphotheca.tumblr.com/tagged/hagfish View high resolution

A group of hagfish congregate next to a scallop.

This image was captured by HabCam, an optical imaging endeavor by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, that provides researchers with a one-of-a-kind glimpse of the seafloor. The “Cam” part of HabCam is a camera system that is towed over the ocean bottom along the continental shelf (where a continent drops off under the ocean) off the East Coast of the United States… (read more)

(via: OurAmazingPlanet)

______________________________

find out more about hagfish:

http://rhamphotheca.tumblr.com/tagged/hagfish

Hagfish Slime 

Slime, or mucus is used by many animals both on land and in the sea, but Hagfish have the outstanding ability to defend themselves by producing an incredible slime when touched. It comes from the glands along the side of their body, and within minutes literally liters of it can be produced. Despite being one of the most primitive vertebrates alive, this rare species is certainly strange and wonderful!

(via: Vancouver Aquarium)

find out more: http://rhamphotheca.tumblr.com/tagged/hagfish

Hagfishes!!! Did you know that hagfishes produce guge amounts of mucous? One disturbed hagfish can fill a 2-gallon bucket with slime in a matter of minutes! Impress your friends with more fun-fish-facts: http://smithsonianscience.org/2012/01/five-funky-and-5-fun-fish-facts/ (Photo: Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary) View high resolution

Hagfishes!!!

Did you know that hagfishes produce guge amounts of mucous? One disturbed hagfish can fill a 2-gallon bucket with slime in a matter of minutes!

Impress your friends with more fun-fish-facts: http://smithsonianscience.org/2012/01/five-funky-and-5-fun-fish-facts/

(Photo: Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary)

Pacific Hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii) Also known as slime eels, hagfish are primitive fishes. They have five hearts, no jaws, no true eyes and no stomach. They have poor vision but a very good sense of smell and touch. Hagfish live in burrows on the seafloor and locate their food by smelling and feeling as they swim. They prey on small invertebrates living in the mud, as well as scavenging dead and dying fish. They are noted for their unusual way of feeding—they slither into dead or dying fishes and eat them from the inside out, using their “rasping tongue” to carry food into their funnel-shaped mouth. Hagfish are notorious for their defensive slime. They secrete a sugar and protein matrix into the seawater. When expelled, it mixes with the saltwater and becomes a slippery slime. Protein strands within the slime make it extremely sticky. Habitat: Deep Sea Diet: worms or carrion Size: to 25 inches long (64 cm) Range: seafloor, 30-2,600 feet (10-790 m) (via: Monterey Bay Aquarium) View high resolution

Pacific Hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii)

Also known as slime eels, hagfish are primitive fishes. They have five hearts, no jaws, no true eyes and no stomach. They have poor vision but a very good sense of smell and touch.

Hagfish live in burrows on the seafloor and locate their food by smelling and feeling as they swim. They prey on small invertebrates living in the mud, as well as scavenging dead and dying fish. They are noted for their unusual way of feeding—they slither into dead or dying fishes and eat them from the inside out, using their “rasping tongue” to carry food into their funnel-shaped mouth.

Hagfish are notorious for their defensive slime. They secrete a sugar and protein matrix into the seawater. When expelled, it mixes with the saltwater and becomes a slippery slime. Protein strands within the slime make it extremely sticky.

  • Habitat: Deep Sea
  • Diet: worms or carrion
  • Size: to 25 inches long (64 cm)
  • Range: seafloor, 30-2,600 feet (10-790 m)

(via: Monterey Bay Aquarium)

Challenges of Living in the Deep

This video uses undersea footage from MBARI’s remotely-operated vehicles to show the various challenges that midwater and deep-sea organisms face, and the adaptations they have developed in order to survive in this inhospitable environment. George Matsumoto, Linda Kuhnz, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and Edith Widder, Erika Raymond Ocean Research and Conservation Association (ORCA), Copyright 2009

(via: MBARI Video)

the more commonly encountered Deep Ocean macro-fauna of Barkley Canyon, off the coast of British Columbia, Canada (photo: Neptune Canada) View high resolution

the more commonly encountered Deep Ocean macro-fauna of Barkley Canyon, off the coast of British Columbia, Canada

(photo: Neptune Canada)

This fucking Hagfish will laugh at anything. Don’t let it go to your head… I just wanna take this chance to dispel the idea of “fish”. We teach kids about the 5 groups of vertebrates, but “fish” is actually 4 distinct extant classes of animals that all happen to be obligate aquatic/marine animals. These classes all have distinct anatomies, physiologies, and life cycles. Here they are 1. Osteichthyes - The “bony fish” (what most people think of when they think of fish) 2. Chondrichthyes - The “cartilaginous fish” (sharks, rays, skates, etc) 3. Cephalaspidomorphi  - Lampreys 4.  Myxini - Hagfish * Now not everyone agrees with the taxonomy as I have presented it here, but this is the general sort of consensus in a field filled with taxonomic uncertainty ;)

This fucking Hagfish will laugh at anything. Don’t let it go to your head…

I just wanna take this chance to dispel the idea of “fish”. We teach kids about the 5 groups of vertebrates, but “fish” is actually 4 distinct extant classes of animals that all happen to be obligate aquatic/marine animals. These classes all have distinct anatomies, physiologies, and life cycles. Here they are

1. Osteichthyes - The “bony fish” (what most people think of when they think of fish)

2. Chondrichthyes - The “cartilaginous fish” (sharks, rays, skates, etc)

3. Cephalaspidomorphi  - Lampreys

4.  Myxini - Hagfish

* Now not everyone agrees with the taxonomy as I have presented it here, but this is the general sort of consensus in a field filled with taxonomic uncertainty ;)

Depletion of the Body Snatchers by Kevin Conner The media won’t cut anybody a break. “Disgusting Sea Creature Threatened with Extinction.” “’Not-So-Cute’ Hagfish Threatened.” These are just a couple headlines last week in response to our hagfish press release, proving that in a world where cute sneezing baby pandas generate millions of views, sometimes an ugly craniate can provide a refreshing change. Let’s face it, not every part of nature is cuddly and adorable. Sometimes it’s … well, for lack of a better word, icky. Enter the hagfish. This super-flexible and super-slimy dynamo has a palette that puts Homer Simpson to shame. There are over 70 different species of this ancient fish, which have not changed that much over several hundred million years. They have no bones, four hearts and a copious amount of slime. They have also perfectly evolved to be the vultures or hyenas of the bottom of the ocean — feeding on the carcasses of animals that float to the bottom. If you have not seen them at work on a whale carcass, click here and have your mind blown… (read more: Conservation International)  (photo: Linda Snook, NOAA/Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary) View high resolution

Depletion of the Body Snatchers

by Kevin Conner

The media won’t cut anybody a break. “Disgusting Sea Creature Threatened with Extinction.” “’Not-So-Cute’ Hagfish Threatened.” These are just a couple headlines last week in response to our hagfish press release, proving that in a world where cute sneezing baby pandas generate millions of views, sometimes an ugly craniate can provide a refreshing change.

Let’s face it, not every part of nature is cuddly and adorable. Sometimes it’s … well, for lack of a better word, icky. Enter the hagfish. This super-flexible and super-slimy dynamo has a palette that puts Homer Simpson to shame.

There are over 70 different species of this ancient fish, which have not changed that much over several hundred million years. They have no bones, four hearts and a copious amount of slime. They have also perfectly evolved to be the vultures or hyenas of the bottom of the ocean — feeding on the carcasses of animals that float to the bottom. If you have not seen them at work on a whale carcass, click here and have your mind blown…

(read more: Conservation International) 

(photo: Linda Snook, NOAA/Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary)

Planet Earth - Ocean Deep:  Exploring the Ocean Floor (BBC)

Creatures at the very deepest parts of the ocean… the various animals feeding on a whale carcass and the wonderful Dumbo Octopus.

Hagfish Feed on a Whale in the Ocean Depths (Blue Planet, BBC)

Narrated by Sir David Attenborrough. Thanks to Itjustgoeson for finding this, as well!

Hagfish Slime

Slime, or mucus is used by many animals both on land and in the sea, but Hagfish have the outstanding ability to defend themselves by producing an incredible slime when touched. It comes from the glands along the side of their body, and within minutes literally liters of it can be produced. Despite being one of the most primitive vertebrates alive, this rare species is certainly strange and wonderful! Our oceans harbor amazing species that despite being a bit weird, are still worth protecting.

* thanks to itjustgoeson  for letting us know about this!

Pacific Hagfish  (photo:Ken Lucas) The hagfish, also known as the slime eel, is a primitive bottom-dweller with no jaws, teeth, or stomach. The animal lacks even true eyes but it does have an incredible, and somewhat disgusting, defense mechanism. When threatened, the hagfish secretes copious amounts of ropy, sticky, slippery, and snotty slime. This protein-and-sugar-based ooze is an unappetizing deterrent to predators. When the danger has passed, the hagfish cleans up by tying itself in a simple overhand knot and pulling its body through—scraping it clean. (via: National Geo) View high resolution

Pacific Hagfish  (photo:Ken Lucas)

The hagfish, also known as the slime eel, is a primitive bottom-dweller with no jaws, teeth, or stomach. The animal lacks even true eyes but it does have an incredible, and somewhat disgusting, defense mechanism.

When threatened, the hagfish secretes copious amounts of ropy, sticky, slippery, and snotty slime. This protein-and-sugar-based ooze is an unappetizing deterrent to predators. When the danger has passed, the hagfish cleans up by tying itself in a simple overhand knot and pulling its body through—scraping it clean. (via: National Geo)