What substance covers the scaleless skin of wolffishes for protection?
Answer
Loose, thick mucus
Wolffishes possess skin that is thick and notably scaleless. In place of scales, their bodies are covered by a layer of loose, thick mucus. This thick mucous coating serves an important protective function, likely insulating the fish against abrasion. Given their lifestyle, which involves navigating and resting upon hard, potentially sharp substrates like rocky bottoms or shelly substrates in the demersal zone, this protective layer helps mitigate physical damage encountered during movement or while resting in crevices.
Related Questions
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