Saturday, January 28, 2012

Hagfish

Hagfish, also called slime eels:
"... can exude copious quantities of a slime or mucus of unusual composition. When captured and held, they secrete the microfibrous slime, which expands into a gelatinous and sticky goo when combined with water."

"They are the only living animals that have a skull but not a vertebral column."

"Hagfish can feed upon and often even enter and eviscerate the bodies of dead and dying/injured sea creatures much larger than themselves. They are known to devour their victims from the inside."

"Hagfish are usually not eaten owing to their repugnant looks, as well as their viscosity and unpleasant habits."

"However, a particular species is valued as food in the Korean Peninsula. The hagfish is kept alive and irritated by rattling its container with a stick, prompting it to produce slime in large quantities. This slime is used in a similar manner as egg whites in various forms of cookery in the region."
Attacking shark gagged by hagfish slime:


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8 comments:

Angela and Melinda said...

OMG! Snot fish! Even Gary said "Oh, that's so gross!" And all those pearly whites! But it is interesting that they have a skull with no vertebral column. Still, EWWWWWW! Eating their prey from the inside out--what a way to go--sounds like an early Christian martyrdom!

Claudia said...

Slime scramble!!!

Bix said...

Lol, Claudia. I thought the same thing. Humans are so industrious, aren't we. My curiosity would get the best of me, I'd try it. Nothing a little salt and pepper couldn't fix.

Bix said...

Melinda, you can almost hear that shark right after it let go, "Oh, for crying out loud, Snot Fish!"

Leo said...

Gross! I wish they would have followed up on the fish that bit the hagfish, did they suffocate to death? Hmmm...interesting, but I wouldn't want to eat anything made with their slime, haha! ;) peace

Angela and Melinda said...

Hahahahaha, Bix! Do you like okra? Imo, not even salt & pepper can fix okra strings of slime, so I don't think it would fix the Snot Fish either. But let us know how that goes! May the force be with you....

Bix said...

Okra hasn't been on my plate since 1987.

Angela and Melinda said...

I'd 86 the snot fish if you don't like okra! Disgusting veggie. Snot veg.