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AnimalsSurprise 5/5Difficulty 3/5Reviewed on October 17, 2026

When attacked, the hagfish releases a slime that expands in the water in less than a second and clogs the predator's gills.

Why it is true

Glands along its body release mucus and ultra-thin fibres that unravel on contact with seawater, forming a gel thousands of times larger. Underwater cameras have filmed sharks letting go of a hagfish and swimming off, gagging on the slime.

Source: Scientific Reports (Zintzen et al., 2011)

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