What keeps the boneless, jawless hagfish thriving after more than 300 million years? 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 and predators. | Deep Look • PBS

The hagfish is a slime-emitting ocean-dweller that's remained unchanged for 300 million years--and it shows. It has a skull (but no spine), velvet smooth skin, and a terrifying pit of a mouth that’s lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth. 🎥Crazy Monsters | Smithsonian Channel

Happy Hagfish Day, the fall holiday you didn’t know you were waiting for! 🧙 Did you know that many hagfish species are famous for their slime? When disturbed, they ooze proteins from glands in their skin that respond to water to create a slick outer coating. This expands into a huge mass of slime in just minutes to deter predators. These seafloor cuties also have thick "whiskers" to probe the seafloor for food. They play an important role in the deep sea as scavengers, devouring carcasses on th