Why can hagfish produce slime?

Answer: Defense by clogging predator gills

Trapping prey in sticky goo — Wrong. Hagfish are scavengers that burrow into dead animals to eat from inside. They don't trap live prey with slime—it's defense.

Coating skin from sunlight — Wrong. Hagfish live in deep, dark ocean where sunlight doesn't reach. Slime is a defense mechanism, not sunscreen.

Defense by clogging predator gills ✓ — Correct! When attacked, hagfish release tiny amounts of slime proteins that expand with water into GALLONS of sticky, fibrous goo within seconds. This clogs predator gills, forcing them to retreat. The slime is so effective that even sharks give up! Hagfish can tie themselves in knots to scrape off their own slime.