Chimaera 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. At ...

s (Chimaeriformes) are cartilaginous fish belonging to the subclass Holocephali, in the class Chondrichthyes, distantly related to sharks and rays (Elasmobranchii). Listed below are extant species of chimaera. Chimaera diversity is spread across more than 50 species in six genera, three families, and one order. The families and genera within the orders are listed in alphabetical order. * ORDER CHIMAERIFORMES ** Family

Callorhinchidae 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. At ...

(Plough-nose chimaeras) *** Genus ''

Callorhinchus ''Callorhinchus'', the plough-nosed chimaeras or elephantfish, are the only living genus in the family Callorhinchidae (sometimes spelled Callorhynchidae). A few extinct genera only known from fossil remains are recognized. ''Callorhinchus'' spp ...

'' **** '' Callorhinchus callorynchus'' Linnaeus,

1758 Events January–March * January 1 – Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus (Carl von Linné) publishes in Stockholm the first volume (''Animalia'') of the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'', the sta ...

(Ploughnose chimaera) **** ''

Callorhinchus capensis The Cape elephantfish, josef, or St Joseph shark (''Callorhinchus capensis'') is a species of fish in the family Callorhinchidae.Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. ''Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southe ...

'' A. H. A. Duméril, 1865 (Cape elephantfish) **** ''

Callorhinchus milii The Australian ghostshark (''Callorhinchus milii'') is a cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes) belonging to the subclass Holocephali (chimaera). Sharks, rays and skates are the other members of the cartilaginous fish group and are grouped under the ...

Bory de Saint-Vincent Jean-Baptiste Geneviève Marcellin Bory de Saint-Vincent was a French natural history, naturalist, Officer (armed forces), officer and politician. He was born on 6 July 1778 in Agen (Lot-et-Garonne) and died on 22 December 1846 in Paris. Biologis ...

, 1823 (Australian ghostshark) ** Family

Chimaeridae The Chimaeridae, or short-nosed chimaeras, are a family of 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 lon ...

(Shortnose chimaeras) *** Genus ''Chimaera'' **** ''

Chimaera argiloba The whitefin chimaera (''Chimaera argiloba'') is a species of fish in the family Chimaeridae. It is found in the Indian Ocean to the NW of Australia, with a restricted distribution. ''Chimaera argiloba'' inhabits marine waters from a depth range ...

'' Last,

W. T. White W. may refer to: * SoHo (Australian TV channel) (previously W.), an Australian pay television channel * ''W.'' (film), a 2008 American biographical drama film based on the life of George W. Bush * "W.", the fifth track from Codeine's 1992 EP ''Bar ...

& Pogonoski, 2008 (Whitefin chimaera) **** ''

Chimaera bahamaensis ''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 bahama ...

'' Kemper, Ebert, Didier & Compagno, 2010 (Bahamas ghost shark) **** '' Chimaera buccaginella'' Clerkin, Elbert, & Kemper, 2017 (Dark-mouth chimaera) **** ''

Chimaera carophila 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. A ...

'' Kemper, Ebert, Naylor & Didier, 2014 (Brown chimaera) **** '' Chimaera compacta'' Iglésias, Kemper & Naylor, 2022Iglésias, S.P., Kemper, J.M. & Naylor, G.J.P. Chimaera compacta, a new species from southern Indian Ocean, and an estimate of phylogenetic relationships within the genus Chimaera (Chondrichthyes: Chimaeridae). Ichthyol Res 69, 31–45 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-021-00810-9 (Stubby chimaera) **** '' Chimaera cubana'' Howell-Rivero, 1936 (Cuban chimaera) **** '' Chimaera didierae'' Clerkin, Elbert, & Kemper, 2017 (Falkor chimaera) **** ''

Chimaera fulva The southern chimaera (''Chimaera fulva'') is a chimaera species in the family Chimaeridae. It lives in Australia, usually in marine waters 780 to 1095 meters deep. It can grow to a maximum length of at least 100 centimeters, and is sometimes c ...

'' Didier, Last &

, 2008 (Southern chimaera) **** ''

Chimaera jordani Jordan's chimaera (''Chimaera jordani'') is a species of fish in the family Chimaeridae found near Japan, Madagascar, and Mozambique. Its natural habitat is open sea The sea, connected as the world ocean or simply the ocean, is the body of ...

'' S. Tanaka (I), 1905 (Jordan's chimaera) **** ''

Chimaera lignaria The carpenter's chimaera (''Chimaera lignaria''), also known as the giant chimaera or the giant purple chimaera, is a species of fish in the family Chimaeridae. Description The carpenter's chimaera grows to in length; the largest specimen reco ...

'' Didier, 2002 (Carpenter's chimaera) **** ''

Chimaera macrospina The longspine chimaera (''Chimaera macrospina'') 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 femal ...

'' Didier, Last &

, 2008 (Longspine chimaera) **** ''

Chimaera monstrosa ''Chimaera monstrosa'', also known as the rabbit fish or rat fish, is a northeast Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean species of cartilaginous fish in the family Chimaeridae. The rabbit fish is known for its characteris ...

'' Linnaeus,

(Rabbit fish) **** ''

Chimaera notafricana The cape chimaera (''Chimaera notafricana'') is a chimaera species in the family Chimaeridae, which lives in South Africa and Namibia. Taxonomy The cape chimaera is one of 16 species in the genus Chimaera. The species was described in 2010 b ...

'' Kemper, Ebert, Compagno & Didier, 2010 (Cape chimaera) **** ''

Chimaera obscura The shortspine chimaera (''Chimaera obscura''), also commonly known as the short spine chimaera, is a chimaera species in the family Chimaeridae, which lives off of the east coast of Australia. Description The shortspine chimaera is similar to ...

'' Didier, Last &

, 2008 (Shortspine chimaera) **** '' Chimaera ogilbyi'' Waite, 1898 (Ogilby's ghostshark) **** '' Chimaera opalescens'' Luchetti, Iglésias & Sellos, 2011 (Opal chimaera) **** '' Chimaera orientalis'' Angulo, M. I. Bussing, W. A. Bussing & Murase, 2014 (Eastern Pacific black chimaera) **** ''

Chimaera owstoni Owston's chimaera, ''Chimaera owstoni'', is a species of fish in the family Chimaeridae endemic to Japan. Its natural habitat is open sea The sea, connected as the world ocean or simply the ocean, is the body of salty water that covers app ...

'' S. Tanaka (I), 1905 (Owston's chimaera) **** ''

Chimaera panthera 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 Nat ...

'' Didier, 1998 (Leopard chimaera) **** ''

Chimaera phantasma The silver chimaera (''Chimaera phantasma'') 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. Silv ...

'' D. S. Jordan & Snyder, 1900 (Silver chimaera) **** '' Chimaera willwatchi'' Clerkin, Elbert, & Kemper, 2017 (Seafarer ghostshark) *** Genus '' Hydrolagus'' **** ''

Hydrolagus affinis The small-eyed rabbitfish (''Hydrolagus affinis'') is a species of fish in the family Chimaeridae. It has very wide distribution almost everywhere in Northern Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, wi ...

'' Brito Capello, 1868 (Small-eyed rabbitfish) **** ''

Hydrolagus africanus The African chimaera (''Hydrolagus africanus'') is a species of fish in the family Chimaeridae found near Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, and South Africa. Its natural habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, p ...

'' Gilchrist, 1922 (African chimaera) **** ''

Hydrolagus alberti The gulf chimaera (''Hydrolagus alberti'') is a species of cartilaginous fish in the family Chimaeridae found near Mexico, the United States, and possibly Suriname. Its natural habitat is open sea The sea, connected as the world ocean or ...

'' Bigelow & Schroeder, 1951 (Gulf chimaera) **** ''

Hydrolagus alphus The whitespot ghost shark (''Hydrolagus alphus'') is a chimaera species in the family Chimaeridae, which lives in parts of the Galápagos Islands in the southeast Pacific Ocean. It lives in waters with steep slopes and boulders and grows to a to ...

'' Quaranta, Didier,

Long Long may refer to: Measurement * Long, characteristic of something of great duration * Long, characteristic of something of great length * Longitude (abbreviation: long.), a geographic coordinate * Longa (music), note value in early music mensur ...

& Ebert, 2006 (Whitespot ghostshark) **** ''

Hydrolagus barbouri The ninespot chimaera (''Hydrolagus barbouri'') is a species of chimaera endemic to the waters off Japan and the South China Sea in the Northwest Pacific. Its natural habitat is open seas and its depth range is . It can reach a maximum total leng ...

'' Garman, 1908 (Ninespot chimaera) **** ''

Hydrolagus bemisi The pale ghost shark (''Hydrolagus bemisi'') is a shortnose chimaera of the family Chimaeridae. It is endemic to New Zealand waters. Taxonomy This species was first described by Dominique A. Didier in 2002. Although it had been recognised, th ...

'' Didier, 2002 (Pale ghost shark) **** ''

Hydrolagus colliei The spotted ratfish (''Hydrolagus colliei'') is a chimaera found in the north-eastern Pacific Ocean. Often seen by divers at night in the Pacific Northwest, this cartilaginous fish gets its characteristic name from a pointed rat-like tail. The ...

Lay Lay may refer to: Places *Lay Range, a subrange of mountains in British Columbia, Canada *Lay, Loire, a French commune *Lay (river), France *Lay, Iran, a village *Lay, Kansas, United States, an unincorporated community People * Lay (surname) * ...

& E. T. Bennett, 1839 (Spotted ratfish) **** '' Hydrolagus deani'' H. M. Smith &

Radcliffe Radcliffe or Radcliff may refer to: Places * Radcliffe Line, a border between India and Pakistan United Kingdom * Radcliffe, Greater Manchester ** Radcliffe Tower, the remains of a medieval manor house in the town ** Radcliffe tram stop * ...

, 1912 (Philippine chimaera) **** ''

Hydrolagus eidolon ''Hydrolagus'' is a genus of fish in the family (biology), family Chimaeridae found in the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Oceans.Weigmann, S. (2016)Annotated checklist of the living sharks, batoids and chimaeras (Chond ...

'' D. S. Jordan & C. L. Hubbs, 1925 **** ''

Hydrolagus erithacus ''Hydrolagus erithacus'', or Robin's ghostshark, is a species of fish in the family Chimaeridae. It is found in the southeastern Atlantic and southwestern Indian oceans. There exists a rapid development of fisheries since the 1970s in their terr ...

'' Walovich, Elbert, & Kemper, 2017 (Robin's ghostshark) **** ''

Hydrolagus homonycteris The black ghostshark (''Hydrolagus homonycteris''), also known as the black chimaera, is a chimaera species within the family Chimaeridae. The species lives off the coasts of Australia and New Zealand, in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, in depths ...

'' Didier, 2008 (Black ghostshark) **** ''

Hydrolagus lemures The bight ghostshark or blackfin ghostshark (''Hydrolagus lemures'') is a species of chimaera endemic to the waters of Australia from Queensland to Western Australia where it is found near the ocean floor of the continental shelf and upper slo ...

'' Whitley, 1939 (Bight ghostshark) **** ''

Hydrolagus lusitanicus ''Hydrolagus'' is a genus of fish in the family Chimaeridae found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.Weigmann, S. (2016)Annotated checklist of the living sharks, batoids and chimaeras (Chondrichthyes) of the world, with a focus on biogeog ...

'' T. Moura, I. M. R. Figueiredo, Bordalo-Machado, C. Almeida &

Gordo Gordo (Spanish and Portuguese for "fat") may refer to: People * Afonso II of Portugal (1185–1223), King of Portugal nicknamed "''o Gordo'' ("the Fat") * Gordon Cooper (1927–2004), one of the seven original American astronauts, nicknamed "Gord ...

, 2005 (Portuguese rabbitfish) **** ''

Hydrolagus macrophthalmus The bigeye chimaera (''Hydrolagus macrophthalmus'') is a species of fish in the family Chimaeridae. It is found in Chile and possibly Ecuador. Its natural habitat is open seas. It is only known from the preabyssal zone off Valparaiso, and may o ...

'' F. de Buen, 1959 (Bigeye chimaera) **** '' Hydrolagus marmoratus'' Didier, 2008 (Marbled ghostshark) **** '' Hydrolagus matallanasi'' Soto & Vooren, 2004 (Striped rabbitfish) **** ''

Hydrolagus mccoskeri ''Hydrolagus'' is a genus of fish in the family Chimaeridae found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.Weigmann, S. (2016)Annotated checklist of the living sharks, batoids and chimaeras (Chondrichthyes) of the world, with a focus on biogeog ...

'' L. A. K. Barnett, Didier,

& Ebert, 2006 (Galápagos ghostshark) **** ''

Hydrolagus melanophasma The Eastern Pacific black ghostshark (''Hydrolagus melanophasma'', literally a combination of "water rabbit" and "black ghost") is a species of fish in the family Chimaeridae.Carlos Bustamante, Hernán Flores, Yhon Concha-Pérez, Carolina Vargas ...

'' K. C. James, Ebert,

& Didier, 2009 (Eastern Pacific black ghostshark) **** '' Hydrolagus mirabilis'' Collett, 1904 (Large-eyed rabbitfish) **** ''

Hydrolagus mitsukurii ''Hydrolagus mitsukurii'' is a species of fish in the family Chimaeridae found in China, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, and possibly Indonesia. Its natural habitat is open seas. It is one of several species commonly called "spookfis ...

'' D. S. Jordan & Snyder, 1904 (Spookfish) **** '' Hydrolagus novaezealandiae'' Fowler, 1911 (Dark ghostshark) **** ''

Hydrolagus pallidus ''Hydrolagus pallidus'' is a marine species of fish in the family Chimaeridae found in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, specifically near Iceland and the Canary Islands. It is commonly known as the pale chimaera or pale ghost shark, although it is ...

Hardy Hardy may refer to: People * Hardy (surname) * Hardy (given name) * Hardy (singer), American singer-songwriter Places Antarctica * Mount Hardy, Enderby Land * Hardy Cove, Greenwich Island * Hardy Rocks, Biscoe Islands Australia * Hardy, Sout ...

& Stehmann, 1990 (Pale chimaera) **** ''

Hydrolagus purpurescens The purple chimaera or purple ghostshark (''Hydrolagus purpurescens'') is a species of fish in the family Chimaeridae found off Japan and Hawaii. Its natural habitat is open sea The sea, connected as the world ocean or simply the ocean, is ...

'' C. H. Gilbert, 1905 (Purple chimaera) **** ''

Hydrolagus trolli The pointy-nosed blue chimaera (''Hydrolagus trolli''), also known as the pointy-nosed blue ratfish, Ray Troll's chimaera or abyssal ghostshark, is a species of deep-sea fish in the family Chimaeridae. Etymology The specific name ''trolli'' hon ...

'' Didier & Séret, 2002 (Pointy-nosed blue chimaera) ** Family

Rhinochimaeridae The Rhinochimaeridae, commonly known as long-nosed chimaeras, are a family (biology), 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 h ...

(Long-nosed chimaeras) *** Genus '' Harriotta'' **** '' Harriotta haeckeli'' Karrer, 1972 (Smallspine spookfish) **** '' Harriotta raleighana''

Goode Goode ( or , depending on family) is a surname. Notable people Notable people with the surname include: * Alex Goode (Born 1988), British rugby union player * Alexander D. Goode (1911-1943), US Army chaplain * Andy Goode (born 1980), British ru ...

Bean A bean is the seed of several plants in the family Fabaceae, which are used as vegetables for human or animal food. They can be cooked in many different ways, including boiling, frying, and baking, and are used in many traditional dishes th ...

, 1895 (Narrownose chimaera) *** Genus ''

Neoharriotta ''Neoharriotta'' is a genus of fish in the family Rhinochimaeridae. Species * '' Neoharriotta carri'' Bullis & J. S. Carpenter, 1966 (Dwarf sicklefin chimaera) * ''Neoharriotta pinnata'' Schnakenbeck, 1931 (Sicklefin chimaera) * ''Neoharriotta ...

'' **** ''

Neoharriotta carri The dwarf sicklefin chimaera (''Neoharriotta carri'') is a species of fish in the family Rhinochimaeridae found in Colombia and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is open seas. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed ...

'' Bullis & J. S. Carpenter, 1966 (Dwarf sicklefin chimaera) **** ''

Neoharriotta pinnata The sicklefin chimaera (''Neoharriotta pinnata'') 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, Sene ...

'' Schnakenbeck, 1931 (Sicklefin chimaera) **** '' Neoharriotta pumila'' Didier & Stehmann, 1996 (Arabian sicklefin chimaera) *** Genus ''

Rhinochimaera ''Rhinochimaera'' is a genus of cartilaginous fish in the family Rhinochimaeridae, with these species: * ''Rhinochimaera africana'' Compagno, Stehmann & Ebert, 1990 (paddlenose chimaera) * ''Rhinochimaera atlantica'' Holt & Byrne, 1909 (broa ...

'' **** '' Rhinochimaera africana'' Compagno, Stehmann & Ebert, 1990 (Paddlenose chimaera) **** ''

Rhinochimaera atlantica The broadnose chimaera, knifenose chimaera, spearnose chimaera, or straightnose rabbitfish (''Rhinochimaera atlantica'') is a species of fish in the family Rhinochimaeridae found near Canada, Colombia, France, Gambia, Iceland, Mauritania, Mexico, ...

Holt Holt or holte may refer to: Natural world *Holt (den), an otter den * Holt, an area of woodland Places Australia * Holt, Australian Capital Territory * Division of Holt, an electoral district in the Australian House of Representatives in Vic ...

Byrne ' Byrne (also O'Byrne) is an Irish surname. It is derived from the Gaelic ''Ó Broin'' or ''Ó Beirn''. There are two Irish surnames which have Byrne as their English spelling; the most common comes from Ó Broin, which refers to the Leinster-b ...

, 1909 (Broadnose chimaera) **** ''

Rhinochimaera pacifica ''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 ...

Mitsukuri Mitsukuri (written: 箕作 or 三栗) is a Japanese surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family na ...

, 1895 (Pacific spookfish)

References

Fishbase: Order Chimaeriformes

References

See also