Kennedy Guillen

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Kennedy Guillen is a marine biologist whose research focuses on the functional morphology and behavior of deep-sea fishes, with a particular emphasis on hagfish. Her most notable contribution is the detailed characterization of biphasic burrowing in the Atlantic hagfish (*Myxine limosa*), a species found in muddy substrates at depths exceeding 100 meters in the western North Atlantic. In her 2024 study, Guillen provided the first comprehensive description of this two-phase burrowing process, revealing how these ancient vertebrates use a combination of body undulations and knot-tying behaviors to penetrate and move through sediment. This work, which has already garnered 3 citations, fills a critical gap in understanding the ecology of these ecologically important scavengers. By combining observations from submersibles with controlled laboratory experiments, Guillen has shed light on a previously undocumented aspect of hagfish biology, offering new insights into their role in benthic ecosystems and their evolutionary adaptations to deep-sea environments. Her research has significant implications for understanding burrowing mechanics in soft-bodied vertebrates and the ecological dynamics of deep-sea sedimentary habitats.