How to Snog a Hagfish!

Jonathan Eyers has been fascinated by sea life since he saw Jaws at far too young an age. Unfortunately, whilst writing this book he discovered his tolerance for disgusting things is probably higher than most people's. He is the author of Don't Shoot the Albatross: Nautical Myths and Superstitions and Final Voyage: The World's Worst Maritime Disasters, both published by Adlard Coles Nautical, and the children's novel The Thieves of Pudding Lane (Bloomsbury).

Chapter 1 – Looks Aren’t Everything

From the blobfish (the ‘ugliest’ creature on the planet) to the barreleye (which has a transparent head), many of the most unique-looking animals live in the sea.

Chapter 2 – Disgusting Diets

From sharks that swallow reindeers to eels that eat their prey from the inside out, plus how starfishes regurgitate their stomach into clam shells.

Chapter 3 – Disgusting Defences

From octopus ink to the world’s most toxic venom, as well as the hagfish, which ties itself in a knot to squeeze slime out of its skin.

Chapter 4 – Disgusting Habits

From the tongue-eating louse (which needs no introduction) to the phronima, which burrows a hollow out of its prey and then lays its eggs inside.

Chapter 5 – Monsters of the Deep

From jellyfish with tentacles as long as a train carriage to crabs that grow to 4m across, as well as rays that swim in swarms of thousands.

Chapter 6 – Shark Alert!

With a ‘sixth sense’ allowing them to detect potential prey and a snout powerful enough to smell a single drop of blood in the water from half a km away, sharks inspire awe as well as terror. Features the true story behind Jaws.

Chapter 7 – The Best of the Rest of the Worst

From forests of ‘killer’ seaweed to so-called sea snot, as well as the Portuguese man-of-war (which is actually a small colony of four different creatures).