Hagfish are also known as slime eels, thought they are not eels. They belong to the class Agnatha, fish without jaws. There are an estimated 76 species of hagfish, which live in cold waters around the world. Different species range from several inches to more than four feet long. Hagfish have a reputation for being disgusting — it might have something to do with their sliminess and their unsavory dining habits — but they’re actually valuable parts of the ocean ecosystem, and that slime might have practical applications. Go to Zoologic to read my latest Creature Feature: The Creature Feature: 10 Fun Facts About the Hagfish .
Zombies may still be a thing of fiction, but some parasites more or less turn their hosts into the walking dead. These masters of mind control manipulate their hosts from within, causing them to act in self-destructive ways that ultimately benefit the parasite. Read my latest National Geographic Weird & Wild post: Meet 5 “Zombie” Parasites That Mind-Control Their Hosts .
Eurasian Jays are known for caching food and remembering its location for later. They’re also known for their tendency to pilfer the caches of other jays. A new study shows jays can find other birds’ food stashes by watching or simply listening to them caching. Read my latest Zoologic post: Sneaky Jays Look and Listen to Steal From Other s.
Research shows that people find members of the opposite sex more attractive when they are in close proximity to the color red. Does this reflect cultural influences, or is there a more ancient, evolutionary explanation? Scientists tested monkeys to see how they reacted to photos of opposite sex monkeys on a red or blue background to get to the bottom of the red effect. Read the whole story at Zoologic: The Red Effect, in People and Monkeys .