COMPARISON OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SKIN FROM PACIFIC HAGFISH, EPTATRETUS STOUTII, AND PENPOINT GUNNEL, APODICHTHYS FLAVIDUS

Abstract

Peak stress and stiffness of skin from two elongate fishes, Apodichthys flavidus and Eptatretus stoutii, were mechanically tested at 25mm/minute. Quasi-static tension tests to failure were conducted on skin from dorsal samples from the anterior and posterior ends. Both hagfish and gunnel skin show anisotropy in opposite trends. Hagfish have more deformation resistance longitudinally and gunnels show more resistance circumferentially. Location of samples did not have a significant difference for measurements of either property for both fish. Stiffness exhibited a significant difference for both species between the different directions.