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Snot eel protects itself with slime

A new study has found the primitive hagfish, also known as a “snot eel”, can defend itself by releasing a noxious slime that chokes would-be predators.The long, thin hagfish are almost blind and have no jaws but use tooth-like rasps to prey on dead and dying fish. Fossil record suggests hagfish have evolved little over 500 million years.

Researchers recorded underwater footage which reveals for the first time, the hagfish repelling sharks and bony fish using its gooey defence mechanism.

Read more at The University of Western Australia

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