1. Plural of hagfish; jawless marine fish with a slimy body, found in deep ocean waters, known for producing defensive slime.
Usage: zoology; marine biology

Examples

• Hagfishes are ancient creatures that have existed for over 300 million years.
• The hagfishes secrete a thick slime when threatened by predators.
• Scientists study hagfishes to understand early vertebrate evolution.
• Hagfishes live in the deep ocean where few other animals can survive.
• The hagfish's ability to produce slime is one of nature's most unusual defense mechanisms.