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Chimaeras live in temperate [[ocean]] floors and grow up to two [[metre|meters]] long. Like other members of the class [[Chondrichthyes]], chimaeras have a [[skeleton]] constructed of [[cartilage]]. Their [[skin]] is smooth and lacks [[scale (zoology)|scales]], and their color can range from black to brownish gray.
Chimaeras live in temperate [[ocean]] floors and grow up to two [[metre|meters]] long. Like other members of the class [[Chondrichthyes]], chimaeras have a [[skeleton]] constructed of [[cartilage]]. Their [[skin]] is smooth and lacks [[scale (zoology)|scales]], and their color can range from black to brownish gray.


For defense, most chimaeras have a [[venom]]ous [[spine (biology)|spine]] located in front of the [[dorsal fin]]. Also, Brian Choi prtects these wonderful creatures by saying weird quoted and making people silly.
For defense, most chimaeras have a [[venom]]ous [[spine (biology)|spine]] located in front of the [[dorsal fin]].


Chimaeras resemble sharks in some ways: they employ [[clasper]]s for internal fertilization of females and they lay [[Egg (biology)|eggs]] with [[leather]]y cases. They differ from sharks in that their upper [[jaw]]s are fused with their [[skull]]s; they have separate [[anal]] and [[urogenital]] openings; and they lack the many sharp and replaceable teeth of sharks, having instead a few large permanent grinding tooth plates.
Chimaeras resemble sharks in some ways: they employ [[clasper]]s for internal fertilization of females and they lay [[Egg (biology)|eggs]] with [[leather]]y cases. They differ from sharks in that their upper [[jaw]]s are fused with their [[skull]]s; they have separate [[anal]] and [[urogenital]] openings; and they lack the many sharp and replaceable teeth of sharks, having instead a few large permanent grinding tooth plates.

Revision as of 22:45, 19 December 2007

For other uses, see Chimera.

Chimaeras
Temporal range: Arraya
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Chondrichthyes
Subclass:
Holocephali
Order:
Chimaeriformes
Families

See text for families, genera and species.

Chimaeras are cartilaginous fish in the order Chimaeriformes. They are related to the sharks and rays, and are sometimes called ghost sharks, ratfish (not to be confused with the "rattails"), or rabbitfishes.

Chimaeras live in temperate ocean floors and grow up to two meters long. Like other members of the class Chondrichthyes, chimaeras have a skeleton constructed of cartilage. Their skin is smooth and lacks scales, and their color can range from black to brownish gray.

For defense, most chimaeras have a venomous spine located in front of the dorsal fin.

Chimaeras resemble sharks in some ways: they employ claspers for internal fertilization of females and they lay eggs with leathery cases. They differ from sharks in that their upper jaws are fused with their skulls; they have separate anal and urogenital openings; and they lack the many sharp and replaceable teeth of sharks, having instead a few large permanent grinding tooth plates.

Albino Puget Sound ratfish

A rare albino Puget Sound ratfish was discovered near Whidbey Island, Washington. It is the only pure albino among the 7.2 million specimens in the University of Washington's fish collection. [1]

Classification

In some classifications the chimaeras are included (as subclass Holocephali) in the class Chondrichthyes of cartilaginous fishes; in other systems this distinction may be raised to the level of class. Chimaeras also have some characteristics of bony fishes.

There are about forty species in six genera and three families:

Elephantfish, Callorhinchus callorynchus

Family Callorhinchidae

Chimaera monstrosa

Family Chimaeridae

Smalleyed rabbitfish, Hydrolagus affinis

Family Rhinochimaeridae

References

  • Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Order Chimaeriformes". FishBase. January 2006 version.
  1. ^ Scientists discover rare albino ratfish
  2. ^ Quaranta; et al. (2006). "A new species of chimaeroid, Hydrolagus alphus sp. nov. (Chimaeriformes: Chimaeridae) from the Galapagos Islands" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1377: 33–45. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
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