Chimaeridae

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Chimaeridae
Temporal range: Eocene–Recent
Hydrolagus alberti
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Holocephali
Order: Chimaeriformes
Family: Chimaeridae
Bonaparte, 1831
Genera
A Chimaeridae fish and deepwater mussels at edge of a brine pool.

The Chimaeridae, or short-nosed chimaeras, are a

cartilaginous fish
.

They resemble other

chimaeras in general form and habits, but have short, rounded snouts, without the modifications found in related families. Many species have long, tapering tails, giving them an alternative name of ratfish.[1] Shortnose chimaeras have a venomous spine on their backs, which is sufficiently dangerous to injure humans.[2]

They are found in temperate and tropical marine waters worldwide.[3] Most species are restricted to depths below 200 m (660 ft),[3] but a few, notably the spotted ratfish and rabbit fish, can locally be found at relatively shallow depths. They range from 38 to 150 cm (1.25 to 4.92 ft) in maximum total length, depending on species.[2]

Species

The species are grouped into two genera and include:[2][3]

Family Chimaeridae

See also

References

  1. OCLC 38468784
    . Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Family Chimaeridae – Shortnose chimaeras or ratfishes". Fishbase. 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  3. ^
    OCLC 908128805
    .
  4. ^ Walovich, K.A., Ebert, D.A. & Kemper, J.M. (2017): Hydrolagus erithacus sp. nov. (Chimaeriformes: Chimaeridae), a new species of chimaerid from the southeastern Atlantic and southwestern Indian oceans. Zootaxa, 4226 (4): 509–520.
  5. S2CID 221751740
    .