Did You Know Hagfish Use Slime to Suffocate Their Prey?

Have you ever wondered how a hagfish survives and even thrives?

The popular science YouTube channel Deep Look by KQED and PBS Digital Studios takes a closer look at the hagfish and how it uses slime to get by.

According to their video hagfish are boneless and jawless, but they’ve somehow managed to thrive for more than 300 million years. How do they do it? Slime.

“The goop it exudes – a mix of mucus and special protein cells– expands to 10,000 times its original volume in less than half a second, potentially clogging the gills of competitors,” Deep Look explains in the video’s description. Essentially, the slime suffocates potential prey or competitors.

Beyond using slime in a predatory manner, hagfish also use it in self-defense. The video explains, “What happens when a predator bites into a hagfish? That predator will get a mouthful of slime! When threatened, the hagfish releases slime from pores that run alongside its body. That slime swells to more than a liter in less than half a second.”

It’s safe to say that slime plays a huge role in keeping the hagfish alive and well, and it’s able to do that thanks to its loose skin.

Deep Look explains, “The hagfish’s loose skin is a first line of defense. Its vital organs move out of harm’s way inside of that baggie onesie, allowing the hagfish time to release slime.”

If you want to learn more about the hagfish and how it uses slim to suffocate prey and defend itself, be sure to check out the video below: