Bootlace hagfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bootlace hagfish |
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Nemamyxine
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N. elongata
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| Nemamyxine elongata L. R. Richardson, 1958
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The bootlace hagfish (Nemamyxine elongata) is a very rare type of hagfish. It gets its name because it's long and thin, a bit like a bootlace! Scientists don't know much about this mysterious deep-sea creature. So far, only two of them have ever been found.
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What is a Bootlace Hagfish?
The bootlace hagfish is a special kind of fish. It belongs to a group called hagfish. These animals are quite ancient. They have been around for millions of years. Unlike most fish, hagfish do not have jaws. They also don't have a backbone made of bone. Instead, they have a flexible structure called a notochord.
A Rare Deep-Sea Mystery
Scientists know very little about the bootlace hagfish. We don't know how many there are. We also don't know much about their lives. This is because they are so hard to find. Only two specimens have ever been collected. One was found dead in a fishing net. This happened in the Kaituna River in New Zealand. It was likely thrown back into the water by fishers. The other hagfish was found alive. It was caught during a deep-sea trawl. This happened off the east coast of New Zealand's South Island. It was found at a depth of about 132 to 140 meters (around 430 to 460 feet).
How Big Are They?
The larger of the two bootlace hagfish found was quite long. It measured 867 mm from head to tail. That's almost 87 centimeters, or about 34 inches! We don't know how big they can grow in total. One of the specimens was a female. She had small eggs inside her. These eggs were similar to those of other hagfish species. This gives us a tiny clue about how they reproduce.
What Makes Hagfish Special?
Even though the bootlace hagfish is a mystery, we know a lot about other hagfish. They are truly unique creatures.
Slime Power!
Hagfish are famous for their amazing defense mechanism. When they feel threatened, they release a huge amount of slime. This slime is super sticky and slippery. It can quickly clog the gills of predators. This gives the hagfish a chance to escape. It's like a magic trick!
Ancient Survivors
Hagfish are often called "living fossils." This is because their bodies have changed very little. They look much like their ancestors from millions of years ago. They are one of the oldest groups of vertebrates on Earth. This means they are very successful survivors.
How Do They Eat?
Hagfish are scavengers. They live on the ocean floor. They mostly eat dead or dying animals. They use their strong, tooth-like plates to tear off pieces of food. They can even tie their bodies into knots. This helps them get better leverage when pulling food. It's a strange but effective way to eat!
