Science loves them, but don't look at this gallery on your lunch break

Hagfish:  courtesy NOAA

Hideous is OK with Hagfish

This is no fantasy pet, but it does resemble a fantasy nightmare creature. Hagfish possess a slender, pinkish body that oozes sticky slime, contains three hearts, and lacks jaws or working eyes. Two pairs of rasps on the tip of a tongue-like projection help the sea beast feed on dead or dying fish near the ocean bottom, as well as marine invertebrates. Babies look no cuter when they hatch as miniature versions of adult hagfish, but all versions can sneeze slime when their nostrils fill up.

10 Comments

Except for the algae it isn't that disgusting.

SO COOL!!
I loved the "blobfish"

Oh dear god!......the only thing that scares me is the bot fly, wouldn;t want to find THAT in you!

:D

-THE KID

Ophiguris

from Upsala, Ontario

Hmm, Only the Bot fly really seems disgusting X_X. Especially because, from the looks of it, that thing tears right through flesh and burrows /IN/ your body. That's what creeps me out most Oo. As for the rest, they're not so bad. The Blob Fish DOES look a little creepy though, I suppose underwater, they might have some mass and may be able to support themselves, as whales do until they are on land.

And seriously, why is there no Port Jackson Shark?

Okay, I'm a trekkie geek. That blobfish reminds me of the Videans from Star Trek: Voyager!

the blob fish is hysterical! none of them were too bad. except the bot fly.... jesus, thats creepy. i would NOT want that thing in my back.

I think the Tongue Louse is cute it needs to be renamed the lamb bug.

marct22

from Golden, CO

That blobfish looks like a drooling Ziggy! Not David Bowie Ziggy, but that short comic Ziggy

ok, the blob fish is disgusting

http://beecherbowers.com

I think the Tongue Louse is cute it needs to be renamed the lamb bug.
http://www.hedefnakliyat.com



Download Our iPhone App

Stay up to date on the latest news of the future of science and technology from your iPhone with full articles, images and offline viewing



Follow Us On Twitter

Featuring every article from the magazine and website, plus links from around the Web. Also see our PopSci DIY feed



Become a Fan On Facebook

Share links with friends, comment on stories and more


December 2009: Best of What's New

In our December issue, Popular Science names the 100 best innovations of the year: bombproof wallpaper, self-parking cars, the fastest helicopter, and 97 more. Plus inventor profiles and videos.

Check out the best of what's new here.

Popular Science Photo Pool


Share your photos in the Pop Sci pool at www.flickr.com!
tags_sprite.png
POP_embeddedForm_cover_May09.jpg