Hagfish predatory behaviour and slime defence mechanism: Vincent Zintzen, Clive D. Roberts, Marti J. Anderson, Andrew L. Stewart, Carl D. Struthers & Euan S. Harvey: Scientific Reports 1: 131, 2011

Scientific Reports 1: Article Number 131: 1-6

ARTICLE ABSTRACT: Hagfishes (Myxinidae), a family of jawless marine pre-vertebrates, hold a unique evolutionary position, sharing a joint ancestor with the entire vertebrate lineage. They are thought to fulfil primarily the ecological niche of scavengers in the deep ocean. However, we present new footage from baited video cameras that captured images of hagfishes actively preying on other fish. Video images also revealed that hagfishes are able to choke their would-be predators with gill-clogging slime. This is the first time that predatory behaviour has been witnessed in this family, and also demonstrates the instantaneous effectiveness of hagfish slime to deter fish predators. These observations suggest that the functional adaptations and ecological role of hagfishes, past and present, might be far more diverse than previously assumed. We propose that the enduring success of this oldest extant family of fishes over 300 million years could largely be due to their unique combination of functional traits.

Scientific Terms: Ecology, Animal behaviour, Theory, Zoology

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View the related videos:

1. Hagfish slime as a defence mechanism against gill-breathing predators. These images were obtained near Great Barrier Island and the Three Kings Islands (New Zealand) between December 2009 and April 2010 using baited remote underwater video systems. The field of view shows two bait bags containing two kilograms of frozen pilchard Sardinops sagax (Jenyns) that was thawed and chopped.

2. Sequence of events in hagfish predation. Video footage of a slender hagfish (Neomyxine sp.1) actively preying on red bandfish Cepola haastii (Hector) near Great Barrier Island (New Zealand) in December 2009 at 97 m depth, obtained using a baited remote underwater video system. It has been edited to show only the sequence of interest. The field of view shows two bait bags containing two kilograms of frozen pilchard Sardinops sagax (Jenyns) that was thawed and chopped. The cloud of sediment produced when the video unit landed on the seabed identified the habitat as muddy sand.