Chimaera

Chimaera cubana

Also known as: Caribbean Chimaera, Caribbean Ghost Shark, Cuban Chimaera, Cuban Ratfish, Elephantfish, Ghost Shark

ALSO KNOWN AS

Caribbean Chimaera
Caribbean Ghost Shark
Cuban Chimaera
Cuban Ratfish
Elephantfish
Ghost Shark

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2020

brought in the seafood house in a 25lb frozen box of royal red shrimp caught in gulf of mexico — Chimaera adult, photographed at panama city beach, United States — @jlhnrjd · panama city beach, United States · November 20121 / 1

Overview

Found singly in very deep waters. Their Dorsal spine has a venomous gland.
They feed on small fish and benthic invertebrates.

Found worldwide in tropical to temperate waters of the oceans, living close to the bottom of the continental shelf. Usually caught as a by-catch in deep water trawling.

How to identify

COLOURS

Pattern: lines
Body shape: wings
Head & Mouth: big eyes
Behaviour: bottom dwelling solitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

Habitat & where to find it

Range · Western Central Atlantic
Country only · 1

LIVES IN

Found singly in very deep waters.

RANGE

Western Central Atlantic

Adult photos 1

Discussion

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ALL STAGES

FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

Deep dive

Taxonomy

kingdomAnimalia
phylumChordata
classHolocephali
orderChimaeriformes
familyChimaeridae
genusChimaera
speciesChimaera cubana Howell Rivero, 1936

SourcesWoRMS FishBase