Hagfish

Question 1

During feeding, hagfish may immerse themselves in the … … of … …, encountering high levels of dissolved organic …

Answer 1

body cavities, decaying carcasses, nutrients

Question 2

Which species of hagfish does this study look at?

Answer 2

Pacific hagfish (E. stoutii)

Question 3

Hagfish are able to absorb nutrients such as L-alanine and … through their … and … surfaces - the first documentation of direct organic nutrient acquisition in a vertebrate.

Answer 3

glycine, gill, skin

Question 4

The ability to absorb dissolved organic matter across the epithelium may be an adaptation to a … lifestyle, allowing hagfish to maximise … opportunities for organic … …

Answer 4

scavenging, sporadic, nutrient acquisition

Question 5

From an evolutionary perspective, hagfish represent a transitory state between the generalised nutrient absorption pathways in … … and the more specialised … … of aquatic vertebrates

Answer 5

aquatic invertebrates, digestive systems