Chimaera supapae

Chimaera supapae
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	Holocephali
Order:	Chimaeriformes
Family:	Chimaeridae
Genus:	Chimaera
Species:	C. supapae
Binomial name
Chimaera supapae Ebert, Krajangdara, Fahmi & Kemper, 2024

Chimaera supapae, the Andaman shortnose chimaera, is a type of chimaera of the family Chimaeridae discovered exclusively in the Andaman Sea of Thailand. ^{[2] [1]} It is described from just one single specimen collected at around 775 m depth. ^[2]

Description

This benthic species is distinguishable from its congeners from several characteristics, including short snout, massive head, relatively large eyes, horizontally oval, slender long body trunk 40% body length, slightly convex-shaped posterior margin of the pectoral fins, and dark brown-colored body with no stripes or spots. ^[2] The only specimen ever caught is a non-adult male which has a maximum total length of 50.8 cm. ^{[2] [1]}

Distribution & habitat

Although being caught at 772-775 m depth in the Andaman Sea, there are still no details of its exact habitat's range or depth. ^[2]

References

1. IUCN (2024-04-14). Chimaera supapae: Finucci, B. & Charles, R.: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T257332767A257332828 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2024-2.rlts.t257332767a257332828.en.
2. Ebert, D. E.; Krajangdara, T.; Fahmi; Kemper, J. M. (2024-03-06). "Chimaera supapae (Holocephali: Chimaeriformes: Chimaeridae), a new species of chimaera from the Andaman Sea of Thailand" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 72: 84–90.