Chimaeras are cartilaginous fish in the order Chimaeriformes, known informally as ghost sharks, rat fish, spookfish, or rabbit fish; the last three names are not to be confused with rattails, Opisthoproctidae, or Siganidae, respectively.
The narrownose chimaera is a longnose chimaera of the family Rhinochimaeridae, the longnose chimaeras, consisting of eight species belonging three genera. This species is found in temperate seas worldwide, at depths between 200 and 3,100 m. Its length is between 1.0 and 1.5 m, including a long, tapering snout and a long, filamentous tail.
The Pacific angelshark is a species of angelshark, family Squatinidae, found in the eastern Pacific Ocean from Alaska to the Gulf of California, and from Ecuador to Chile, although those in the Gulf of California and southeastern Pacific may in fact be separate species. The Pacific angelshark inhabits shallow, coastal waters on sandy flats, usually near rocky reefs, kelp forests, or other underwater features. This species resembles other angel sharks in appearance, with a flattened body and greatly enlarged pectoral and pelvic fins. Characteristic features of this shark include a pair of cone-shaped barbels on its snout, angular pectoral fins, and a brown or gray dorsal coloration with many small dark markings. It attains a maximum length of 1.5 m (4.9 ft).
The Cuban chimaera is a species of fish in the family Chimaeridae. It is found in Colombia, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Its natural habitat is open seas. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Jordan's chimaera is a species of fish in the family Chimaeridae found near Japan, Madagascar, and Mozambique. It is named for the American ichthyologist David Starr Jordan (1851–1931). Its natural habitat is open seas.
Owston's chimaera, Chimaera owstoni, is a species of fish in the family Chimaeridae endemic to Japan. Its natural habitat is open seas.
The leopard chimaera, Chimaera panthera, is a species of fish in the family Chimaeridae endemic to New Zealand. Its natural habitat is open seas. This species is considered rare and any specimens obtained should be sent to the New Zealand National Fish Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
The silver chimaera is a species of fish in the family Chimaeridae found near Australia, China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, New Caledonia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is open seas.
The gulf chimaera is a species of cartilaginous fish in the family Chimaeridae found near Mexico, the United States, and possibly Suriname. Its natural habitat is open seas.
The sicklefin chimaera is a species of fish in the family Rhinochimaeridae found near Angola, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania, Namibia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Western Sahara. It is also reported from Gulf of Mannar, India. Its natural habitat is open seas.
The paddlenose chimaera or paddlenose spookfish is a species of fish in the family Rhinochimaeridae found near China, Japan, Mozambique, South Africa, and Taiwan. Its natural habitat is open seas. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Rhinochimaera is a genus of cartilaginous fish in the family Rhinochimaeridae, with these species:
The Chimaeridae, or short-nosed chimaeras, are a family of cartilaginous fish.
The Rhinochimaeridae, commonly known as long-nosed chimaeras, are a family of cartilaginous fish. They are similar in form and habits to other chimaeras, but have an exceptionally long conical or paddle-shaped snout. The snout has numerous sensory nerve endings, and is used to find food such as small fish. The first dorsal fin includes a mildly venomous spine, used in defense.
Chimaera monstrosa, also known as the rabbit fish or rat fish, is a northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean species of cartilaginous fish in the family Chimaeridae. The rabbit fish is known for its characteristically large head and small, tapering body. With large eyes, nostrils, and tooth plates, the head gives them a rabbit-like appearance, hence the nickname “Rabbit fish”. They can grow to 1.5 metres (5 ft) and live for up to 30 years.
Abraliopsis atlantica is a species of enoploteuthid cephalopod found in the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the Benguela Current. Female oocytes are around 1 mm in length and number between 4,000 and 29,000 in mature females. There is a lack of information about the species and it is rated as data deficient by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to this. It was described by Kir Nesis in 1982.
Chimaera bahamaensis, commonly known as the Bahamas ghost shark, is a species of fish in the family Chimaeridae. It is found in North Atlantic Ocean around the Bahamas, specifically it has been found east of Andros Island. Chimaera bahamaensis is known to inhabit marine waters from a depth range of 1,483 metres (4,865 ft) – 1,506 metres (4,941 ft). It is one of the most recently described members of the genus Chimaera and to date only a single specimen has been found.
Rhinochimaera pacifica, commonly known as the Pacific spookfish, knifenose chimaera, narrownose chimaera, Pacific long-nosed chimaera, or Pinocchiofish, is a species of chimaera in the family Rhinochimaeridae. It lives in various parts of the Pacific Ocean and can be characterized by its long snout.
The longspine chimaera is a chimaera species in the family Chimaeridae. It is found off of the eastern and western coasts of Australia, and lives in tropical and temperate waters 435–1,300 meters deep. Males and females grow to a maximum total length of 93.9 and 103.4 centimeters, respectively, and are brown in color.
