Hagfish Structures & Functions
The hag fish has four small, two chambered hearts.
When feeding, the hag fish uses its extendable tongue which has sharp teeth surrounding the entire edge, as well as a fang above this to snag its prey and prevent it from wriggling away.
These amazing creatures have a protective guard which is triggered when they are injured or threatened causing hundreds of glands to secrete as much as seven buckets of slime, commonly known as hag fish goo.
Adult hag fish are around eighteen inches long; though some have reached as long as four foot six inches.
When feeding, the hag fish uses its extendable tongue which has sharp teeth surrounding the entire edge, as well as a fang above this to snag its prey and prevent it from wriggling away.
These amazing creatures have a protective guard which is triggered when they are injured or threatened causing hundreds of glands to secrete as much as seven buckets of slime, commonly known as hag fish goo.
Adult hag fish are around eighteen inches long; though some have reached as long as four foot six inches.
Locations
The hag fish in E. Prager's Sex, Drugs & Sea slime were found in the Gulf of Maine.
Some species of hag fish can be seen in shallow waters, but are more commonly seen in deeper waters, usually at 5,000 meters.
These "ghoulish hag fish" can be found in most waters world wide.
Some species of hag fish can be seen in shallow waters, but are more commonly seen in deeper waters, usually at 5,000 meters.
These "ghoulish hag fish" can be found in most waters world wide.
The Hunter & the Prey
Hagfish prey is typically soft bodied creatures.
They either tear apart their prey slowly with their coarse tongues or strangely entire their prey through orifices (mouths, gills, or anus) and devour them for the inside- out in a parasitic way. ( Could survive up to 14 weeks without feeding).
These hunters may seem like smooth criminals, but can quite easily become an afternoon snack for cods, sharks, octopuses, seals and dolphins.
* When these wacky creatures become the prey the are sometimes put to an early rest due to suffocation from their enormous amount of slime produced when attacked.
They either tear apart their prey slowly with their coarse tongues or strangely entire their prey through orifices (mouths, gills, or anus) and devour them for the inside- out in a parasitic way. ( Could survive up to 14 weeks without feeding).
These hunters may seem like smooth criminals, but can quite easily become an afternoon snack for cods, sharks, octopuses, seals and dolphins.
* When these wacky creatures become the prey the are sometimes put to an early rest due to suffocation from their enormous amount of slime produced when attacked.
The Queen Conch (Lobatus Gigas)
The (Queen) Conch is a large, pink shelled snails that can live anywhere between twenty and thirty years.
Similar to the hag fish with its slimy texture in its shell.
Large queen conch have whorled shells with a flared red lip and a tan outside belly.
They begin as juveniles that spend three to four years buried in the sand because because they are so vulnerable but their shells become thicker as they age. ( Very thick shells depending upon the predators in the same environment as the conch).
Similar to the hag fish with its slimy texture in its shell.
Large queen conch have whorled shells with a flared red lip and a tan outside belly.
They begin as juveniles that spend three to four years buried in the sand because because they are so vulnerable but their shells become thicker as they age. ( Very thick shells depending upon the predators in the same environment as the conch).
Location
The Queen Conch can be found around the Caribbean, South America, and from Bermuda - South Florida.
They prefer to live in areas of sand and sea grass, but can also be seen scattered on hard bottoms and coral rubble.
Due to their location at the bottom of the ocean, they have sponges which grow on their outershell as well as an algae overcoat.
They prefer to live in areas of sand and sea grass, but can also be seen scattered on hard bottoms and coral rubble.
Due to their location at the bottom of the ocean, they have sponges which grow on their outershell as well as an algae overcoat.
Feeding & Mating
These conch feed on algae and sea grass using its proboscis. They digest by using a gelatinous rod in their stomach that releases digestive enzymes.
When these snails are ready for mating the males will follow a pheromone sand trail left by females. They are equipped with a reproductive organ that can be double the length of their own bodies.
It extends from the shell to the open sea and then into the female conch.
The queen conch can lay between hundreds and thousands of eggs after this process.
When these snails are ready for mating the males will follow a pheromone sand trail left by females. They are equipped with a reproductive organ that can be double the length of their own bodies.
It extends from the shell to the open sea and then into the female conch.
The queen conch can lay between hundreds and thousands of eggs after this process.
Fun Facts
Unlike most snail and snail-like creatures, the queen conch hops instead of crawling by using its muscular foot in vigorous movements that allow it to hop.
The Queen Conch heals itself inside its shell when hurt. Even during mating when the male conch is vulnerable to various predators such as the octopus, spiny lobster, sharks, or sea turtles and may have a very untimely castration.
However, this miraculous mega snail can regenerate its own genitals in the event of those mishaps!
* Apart from its own sexual superiority in nature, it is also an aphrodisiac when consumed because of its crystalline style.
The Queen Conch heals itself inside its shell when hurt. Even during mating when the male conch is vulnerable to various predators such as the octopus, spiny lobster, sharks, or sea turtles and may have a very untimely castration.
However, this miraculous mega snail can regenerate its own genitals in the event of those mishaps!
* Apart from its own sexual superiority in nature, it is also an aphrodisiac when consumed because of its crystalline style.
Work Cited
Campbell, N. (2011). Campbell biology. 9th ed.San Francisco: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.
Prager E., (2011). Sex, Drugs, and Sea Slime. 1st ed. Chicago and London: Dr. Ellen Prager.
Campbell, N. (2011). Campbell biology. 9th ed.San Francisco: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.
Prager E., (2011). Sex, Drugs, and Sea Slime. 1st ed. Chicago and London: Dr. Ellen Prager.