Atlantic Hagfish

The Atlantic hagfish may grow up to 0.75 metres (2+1⁄2 ft) long, with no eyes and no jaws; its star-shaped mouth is surrounded by 6 mouth barbels. Their eyes also lack a lens and pigment (features found in the eyes of all other living vertebrates. There is a single gill slit on each side of the eel-like body. It has a total of 88–102 pores from which it can exude a slimy mucus.

Abilities

Similar to other hagfish species, the hagfish has been dubbed the most "disgusting" of all sea creatures by members of the scientific and popular media due to its peculiar eating habits and ability to produce slime. Hagfish, despite being referred to as "slime eels" at times, are not actually eels.

Weather Phenomenon

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Ecology

Although it had no jaws, the mouth of Sacabambaspis janvieri was lined with nearly 60 rows of small bony oral plates which were probably movable in order to provide more efficient suction-action through expansion and contraction of the oral cavity and pharynx.

Behavior

This species targets fish trapped by hook or trap, just like other hagfish. To eat the meat and viscera inside the prey's body, they dig inside it. They also consume dead fish carcasses that have sunk to the ocean floor. Generally speaking, hagifish pose little threat to people. When threatened, they are known to produce copious amounts of slime, however this slime is harmless.

Distribution and Habitat

The Atlantic hagfish is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, spanning from Portugal and the western Mediterranean Sea to the North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat, and the Varanger Fjord. From Canada's Baffin Island south to North Carolina, it can also be found in the western Atlantic Ocean. They inhabit muddy ocean bottoms between 20 and 1000 meters below the surface.

Movement Pattern: Random
Individual Type: Solo
Population Trend: Unknown
Population: ???
Locomotion: Aquatic
Habitat: Warm Littoral; Cold Littoral; Warm Intertidal; Cold Intertidal; Kelp Forest; Coral Reef; Barrier Reef; Guyot; Neritic Zone (Warm); Neritic Zone (Cold); Pelagic Zone (Warm); Pelagic Zone (Cold); Benthic Zone.
Earth:
- Extant (Resident): Algeria; Canada; Denmark; France; Germany; Gibraltar; Greenland; Ireland; Italy; Mexico; Morocco; Netherlands; Norway; Portugal; Spain; Sweden; United Kingdom; United States
Berbania/Hirawhassa:
- Extant & Introduced: Dinojerulla; Zowhringe
Reinachos/Ityosel:
- Extant & Introduced: Ascunsia; Nueva Joaquin