Szlamica

Szlamica (Polish for "slime eel") refers to hagfish, a type of jawless fish belonging to the class Myxini. These marine scavengers are characterized by their elongated, eel-like bodies, lack of paired fins, and the ability to secrete large amounts of slime as a defense mechanism.

Hagfish are found in temperate oceans worldwide, typically at deep depths. They lack true vertebrae, possessing only a notochord. Their diet consists primarily of dead or decaying marine animals. They locate food using sensory barbels around their mouth.

The slime produced by hagfish is a complex substance composed of thread cells and mucus. When expelled into the water, it expands rapidly, forming a large, gelatinous mass that can deter predators by clogging their gills or overwhelming them. This unique defense mechanism is a defining characteristic of hagfish.

Hagfish play an important ecological role as scavengers in the marine environment. They help to recycle nutrients and maintain the health of marine ecosystems. While not commercially fished in most parts of the world, hagfish are harvested in some regions for their skin, which is used to make "eel skin" leather.