The Atlantic hagfish, also known as a slime eel for its habit of producing mucus when stressed or threatened, is one part alien-looking creature and one part congealed nightmare personified. Description: A large white eel-like fish, Coelacanth is a living fossil that probably has not changed much for millions of years.
A Slimy Secret
A unique characteristic of the hagfish is its ability to make slime. If threatened, the hagfish will secrete a copious slime that can block the gills of predatory fish (and these game fishes) and suffocate them. Still, the latter traits seem just as impressive to me; together they prevent water from entering a hagfish gill and have done so for almost half-a-billion years—a strategy that has apparently been enough to make these animals among the best survivors of general earth history in harsh deep-sea settings. This gunky goop is made from web-like proteins, which can stretch quickly when hit with a splash of water and become a jelly fence to keep predators off or snare prey.
A Unique Feeding Strategy
They are scavengers, and feed on the carcases of fish and other marine creatures. What they really do excel at, is finding bones — with their phenomenal sense of smell. They burrow with their sharp teeth right into the meat and eat all of that lovely, soft flesh. With a little help from both their powerful jaws and razor-sharp tongue, they can grind down even the most difficult pieces of prey.
A Primitive Fish
Living Vertebrate — Atlantic Hagfish These tentacles give the impression of having 100 fingers, but it doesnt have a jaw or pairs fins to move. It possesses a cartilaginous endoskeleton with blood and lacks any complex vascular system. Primitive as it is, the hagfish is exquisitely adapted to deep-sea life.
A Controversial Delicacy
Hagfish are a delicacy in some parts of the world, especially Korea and Japan. They have a tendency to be dried and fermented, with their skin used in everything from wallets to handbags.But, as a result of their peculiar appearance and slimey-ness hagfish are not frequently eaten in many areas.
Conservation Concerns
Despite the recent IUCN status, the Atlantic hagfish may be at risk of overfishing and habitat damage. Deep-sea fishing practices such as bottom trawling can destroy the seafloor and its supple ecosystem where hagfish call home. The more, waste of human origin convalesces the marine ecology and harms these ancient creatures.
Sustainable management to bring biomass levels back up where they were 30 years ago are therefore needed for the long-term conservation of Atlantic hagfish and ensuring their survival given at reasonable fishing mortality, protection of high seas deep-sea habitats from bottom trawling and pollution. Understanding and valuing the distinctive biology & ecology of this mysterious creature helps in its conservation& maintaining marine environments it thrives.