The chimaera is a unique, cartilaginous fish that lives in the depths of the ocean and is closely related to sharks, skates and rays.

Not much is known about their lifestyle or reproductive habits, but scientists have identified over 50 chimaera fish species throughout the world’s oceans.

Each family of chimaera fish has a distinctive, somewhat gruesome appearance, and they are often collectively referred to as “ghost sharks” because of their strange, pale coloring.

Incredible Chimaera Facts!

• There are over 50 species of chimaera fish living in the ocean today.
• Chimaera use special electroreceptors on their snouts to help them sense prey.
• Chimaeras are part of the subclass Holocephali, which is over 420 million years old.
• Several species have venomous dorsal spines that protect them from humans and predators.
• Chimaeras have completely scaleless skin.

Chimaera Classification and Scientific Name

Chimaeras are part of the order Chimaeraformes, which subdivides into three families:

• Callorhinchidae, meaning “plough-nosed” chimaera
• Chimaeridae, meaning “short-nosed” chimera
• Rhinochimeridae, meaning “long-nosed” chimaera

The term “chimera” or “chimaera” is also used to describe a mythical lion-goat-snake hybrid creature. While these chimaeras do not bear any resemblance to their Greek mythology counterparts, the name does evoke a feeling of mystery.

Common names for chimaeras include ghost shark, rat fish, spook fish and rabbit fish. These names all stem from the chimaeras unique appearance.

Chimaera Species

Current knowledge shows that there are about 50 species of chimaera fish that currently live in the deep ocean. Because so little is known about deep-sea creatures, researchers are constantly updating taxonomical information as new species are discovered.

Some of the best-known species of chimaera include the following:

• Rabbit fish: This species is also known as Chimera monstrosa. Its name comes from its large head and small, tapering body.
• Pale chimaera: They are also sometimes called the “pale ghost shark.” They are endemic to New Zealand, and they have a distinctive whitish-gray coloring that gives them their ghostlike appearance.
• Small-spine spookfish: This unusual creature is part of the long-nosed chimaera family. It is small and pure white, and it has a thin, curved snout that is covered in nerve endings to help it hunt.

Chimaera Appearance

Because there are so many species of chimaeras that live in the deep waters of oceans around the globe, there are many variations of size, shape, coloring and distinguishing features. This means that it would be impossible to describe every known species of chimaera.

Instead, it would be more useful to look at the average appearance of members of each family of chimaeras.

Plough-nosed Chimaeras

This family of chimaeras is also commonly referred to as “elephant fish.” They are the only surviving members of the Callorhinchus genus. While they behave similarly to the other members of the chimaera order, they are distinguished by their long, flexible and fleshy snouts. These “trunks” are used to search the sea bottom for the small invertebrates that it feeds on. Their snouts can also sense movement and electrical fields, which makes them better hunters.

They typically grow up to 4 feet long and have flat, elongated bodies. Their coloring is usually a mixture of black and brown patches, and they have distinctively large pectoral fins that help them navigate waters quickly.

Short-nosed Chimaeras

Short-nosed chimaeras are often called “ratfish” because of their long, tapering tails. They can grow to be between 1 and 5 feet long, including their tails, and they have a distinctive, venomous spine on their backs that is potent enough to injure a human. Most are brown in color.

Long-nosed Chimaeras

Long-nosed chimaeras have the long, paddle-like snouts of elephant fish as well as the long, tapering tails of rat fish. They are typically pale in color and can grow up to 4.5 feet in length. Like the short-nosed chimaera, they also have a small, venomous dorsal spine.

Chimaera Distribution, Population and Habitat

Chimaeras can be found in all of the world’s oceans except the Arctic. They typically live between 650-8,500 feet below the ocean’s surface. This means that they are considered deep-sea creatures because they reside in the twilight and midnight zones of the ocean.

It is difficult for researchers to gather information about deep-sea dwellers, so much of the information that has been gathered requires further verification.

The majority of chimaera species live near muddy bottoms of underwater ridges, continental shelves, and oceanic islands. This is because they feed on small fish and invertebrates that often burrow into these ocean floors.

The exact population numbers for chimaeras are not known, but they are currently listed as a species of least concern by the IUCN.

Chimaera Predators and Prey

Chimaeras typically eat crabs, mollusks, sea urchins, marine worms, and small octopuses. They have multiple rows of tough, mineralized tooth plates that allow them to crush their prey.

In general, the main predators for chimaeras are larger fish and sharks. Humans are also a threat to certain species of chimaeras that can be found closer to the surface of the ocean.

In addition, while they may not technically be considered predators, scientists have noted that chimaeras are often covered in parasite colonies. One research trip collected nine separate parasite species on a single fish.

Chimaera Reproduction and Life Span

Unfortunately, little is known about the life span and reproductive habits of chimaeras.

Like some of their skate and shark relatives, chimaeras lay eggs onto flat, muddy sea beds. Females lay eggs in pairs, and they can lay multiple pairs during each breeding season. The number of eggs laid depends on the species, and researchers believe that it takes anywhere from 6 to 12 months for the eggs to hatch.

Chimaera hatchlings are usually about 5 inches long, and they look like miniature versions of their adult counterparts. Most deep-sea fish have little interaction with their young because they grow and develop in a shallower strata of the ocean, so there is almost no overlap in their habitats.

Researchers do not know what the average life span is of a chimaera in the wild, but they have been known to live up to 30 years.

Chimaera in Fishing and Cooking

Chimaeras are edible, but they are not a common food source for humans. Like many fish, they have parasite colonies that live on their skin and in their gills. The rabbit fish in particular is thought of as a novelty seafood dish, and some people will also eat ghost fish alongside mussels, clams or shrimp. In the past, chimaera liver oil was valuable as a lubricant for guns and certain instruments.

Most chimaeras are not actively sought by fishermen, but they may be what is known as a “bycatch,” which means that they are caught alongside other targeted species.

Chimaera Population

The current population numbers for the chimaera are not known. Chimaeras in general are poorly understood by scientists, and there is a lack of useful, up-to-date information on their biology, habits, and numbers.

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