Chimaeridae

Chimaeridae
Chimaeridae
Hydrolagus alberti
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Chimaeriformes
Family: Chimaeridae
Bonaparte, 1831
Genera

Chimaera
Hydrolagus

The Chimaeridae, or shortnose chimaeras are a family of cartilaginous fish.

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

They are found in temperate and tropical marine waters worldwide. Most species are restricted to depths below 200 metres (660 ft), but a few, notably the spotted ratfish, can locally be found at relatively shallow depths. They range from 38 centimetres (15 in) to 150 centimetres (4.9 ft) in maximum total length, depending on species.[1]

Species

There are 36 species, grouped into two genera:[1]

Family Chimaeridae

  • Genus Chimaera Linnaeus, 1758
    • Chimaera argiloba Last, W. T. White & Pogonoski, 2008 (Whitefin chimaera)
    • Chimaera bahamaensis Kemper, Ebert, Didier & Compagno, 2010 (Bahamas ghost shark)
    • Chimaera cubana Howell-Rivero, 1936
    • Chimaera fulva Didier, Last & W. T. White, 2008 (Southern Chimaera)
    • Chimaera jordani S. Tanaka (I), 1905 (Jordan's Chimaera)
    • Chimaera lignaria Didier, 2002 (Carpenter's chimaera)
    • Chimaera macrospina Didier, Last & W. T. White, 2008 (Longspine Chimaera)
    • Chimaera monstrosa Linnaeus, 1758 (Rabbit fish)
    • Chimaera notafricana Kemper, Ebert, Compagno & Didier, 2010 Cape Chimaera
    • Chimaera obscura Didier, Last & W. T. White, 2008 (Shortspine Chimaera)
    • Chimaera owstoni S. Tanaka (I), 1905 (Owston's Chimaera)
    • Chimaera panthera Didier, 1998 (Leopard Chimaera)
    • Chimaera phantasma D. S. Jordan & Snyder, 1900 (Silver chimaera)
  • Genus Hydrolagus Gill, 1863
    • Hydrolagus affinis (Brito Capello, 1868) (Smalleyed rabbitfish)
    • Hydrolagus africanus (Gilchrist, 1922) (African chimaera)
    • Hydrolagus alberti Bigelow & Schroeder, 1951
    • Hydrolagus alphus Quaranta, Didier, Long & Ebert, 2006
    • Hydrolagus barbouri (Garman, 1908)
    • Hydrolagus bemisi Didier, 2002 (Pale ghost shark)
    • Hydrolagus colliei (Lay & E. T. Bennett, 1839) (Spotted ratfish)
    • Hydrolagus deani (H. M. Smith & Radcliffe, 1912) (Philippine chimaera)
    • Hydrolagus eidolon (D. S. Jordan & Hubbs, 1925)
    • Hydrolagus homonycteris Didier, 2008 (Black Ghostshark)
    • Hydrolagus lemures (Whitley, 1939) (Blackfin ghostshark)
    • Hydrolagus lusitanicus Moura, Figueiredo, Bordalo-Machado, Almeida & Gordo, 2005
    • Hydrolagus macrophthalmus de Buen, 1959
    • Hydrolagus marmoratus Didier, 2008 Marbled Ghostshark
    • Hydrolagus matallanasi Soto & Vooren, 2004 (Striped rabbitfish)
    • Hydrolagus mccoskeri Barnett, Didier, Long & Ebert, 2006 (Galápagos Ghostshark)
    • Hydrolagus melanophasma K. C. James, Ebert, Long & Didier, 2009 (Eastern Pacific Black Ghostshark)
    • Hydrolagus mirabilis (Collett, 1904) (Large-eyed rabbitfish)
    • Hydrolagus mitsukurii (D. S. Jordan & Snyder, 1904) (Spookfish)
    • Hydrolagus novaezealandiae (Fowler, 1911) (Dark ghostshark)
    • Hydrolagus ogilbyi (Waite, 1898)
    • Hydrolagus pallidus Hardy & Stehmann, 1990
    • Hydrolagus purpurescens (Gilbert, 1905) (Purple chimaera)
    • Hydrolagus trolli Didier & Séret, 2002 (Pointy-nosed blue chimaera)
    • Hydrolagus waitei Fowler, 1907
    • Hydrolagus sp. D/G Giant Black Chimaera
    • Hydrolagus sp. F Peruvian Ratfish

References

  1. ^ a b c Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2011). "Chimaeridae" in FishBase. February 2011 version.

External links


Stub icon This Chondrichthyes-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.