Story: Te hopu tuna – eeling

Tuere (hagfish)

Tuere (hagfish)

Tuere or hagfish are found in the sea. Scientifically they are not eels, but Māori grouped them with other tuna (eels). The tuere’s likeness to an eel was not missed by Europeans, who called it the snot eel because it secretes slime.

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How to cite this page:

Basil Keane, 'Te hopu tuna – eeling - Origins and types of tuna – eels', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/13966/tuere-hagfish (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Basil Keane, published 24 Sep 2007