Rhinochimaeridae

The Rhinochimaeridae, commonly known as long-nosed chimaeras,[2] are a 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 has numerous sensory nerve endings, and is used to find food such as small fish.[3] The first dorsal fin includes a mildly venomous spine, used in defense.[1]

Rhinochimaeridae
Temporal range: Oligocene–Recent [1]
Narrownose chimaera (Harriotta raleighana)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Chimaeriformes
Family: Rhinochimaeridae
Garman, 1901
Genera

Harriotta
Neoharriotta
Rhinochimaera

Long-nosed chimaeras are found in temperate and tropical seas worldwide, from 200 to 2,000 m (660 to 6,560 ft) in depth.[1] They range from 60 to 140 cm (2.0 to 4.6 ft) in maximum total length, depending on species.

Rhinochimaeridae in the Gulf of Mexico at roughly 4300 ft deep

Species

The eight known species are in three genera:[1]

Family Rhinochimaeridae

  • Genus Harriotta Goode & Bean, 1895
    • Harriotta haeckeli Karrer, 1972 (smallspine spookfish)
    • Harriotta raleighana Goode & Bean, 1895 (narrownose chimaera)
Pacific longnose chimaera, Harriotta raleighana
  • Genus Neoharriotta Bigelow & Schroeder, 1950
    • Neoharriotta carri Bullis & J. S. Carpenter, 1966 (dwarf sicklefin chimaera)
    • Neoharriotta pinnata Schnakenbeck, 1931 (sicklefin chimaera)
    • Neoharriotta pumila Didier & Stehmann, 1996 (Arabian sicklefin chimaera)
  • Genus Rhinochimaera Garman, 1901
    • Rhinochimaera africana Compagno, Stehmann & Ebert, 1990 (paddlenose chimaera)
    • Rhinochimaera atlantica Holt & Byrne, 1909 (broadnose chimaera)
    • Rhinochimaera pacifica Mitsukuri, 1895 (Pacific spookfish)

References
  1. Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2009). "Rhinochimaeridae" in FishBase. January 2009 version.
  2. CBC News: Creepy deepwater fish surprises Nova Scotia fisherman
  3. Stevens, H. & Last, P.R. (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 69. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.


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