noun
hagfish; slime eel
A jawless, eel-like marine fish known for producing copious slime. The Japanese name literally means 'blind eel'. The species Myxine garmani is a common representative in Japanese waters.
メクラウナギは海底で死んだ魚を食べる。
Hagfish eat dead fish on the ocean floor.
水族館でメクラウナギの展示を見た。
I saw a hagfish exhibit at the aquarium.
ウナギ is a true eel (Anguilla japonica), commonly eaten. メクラウナギ is not a true eel but a primitive jawless fish; it is not typically eaten in Japan.
ヤツメウナギ (lamprey) is another jawless fish with a similar eel-like shape, but lampreys have a round sucker mouth, while hagfish have a slit-like mouth and produce slime.
Compound of 盲 (mekura, 'blind') + 鰻 (unagi, 'eel'), referring to the hagfish's reduced eyes and eel-like body. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the name is descriptive.