Chimaera
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2008-06-21T07:04:32Z
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{{about|fish|other uses|Chimera}}
{{Taxobox
| name = Chimaeras
| fossil_range = [[Devonian]]–Recent
| image = Hydrolagus colliei.jpg
| image_caption = ''[[Hydrolagus colliei]]''
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Chondrichthyes]]
| subclassis = [[Holocephali]]
| ordo = '''Chimaeriformes'''
| subdivision_ranks = Families
| subdivision = See text for families, genera and species.
}}
'''Chimaeras''' are [[Chondrichthyes|cartilaginous fish]] in the order '''Chimaeriformes'''. They are related to the [[shark]]s and [[batoidea|rays]], and are sometimes called '''ghost sharks''', '''ratfish''' (not to be confused with the "[[rattail]]s"), or '''rabbitfishes'''.
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]].
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 [[anus|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]]. <ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20961361/ Scientists discover rare albino ratfish]</ref>
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:2542_aquaimages.jpg|Ratfish, Queen Charlotte Islands, Canada.
Image:2535_aquaimages.jpg|Ratfish, Queen Charlotte Islands, Canada.
Image:2534_aquaimages.jpg|Ratfish, Queen Charlotte Islands, Canada.
Image:2537_aquaimages.jpg|Ratfish, Queen Charlotte Islands, Canada.
</gallery>
==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 [[Osteichthyes|bony fishes]].
There are about forty species in six genera and three families:
[[Image:Callorhinchus callorynchus.jpg|thumb|right|240px|[[Elephantfish]], ''Callorhinchus callorynchus'']]
Family [[Callorhinchidae]]
* Genus ''[[Callorhinchus]]''
** [[Elephant fish]], ''Callorhinchus callorynchus'' <small>([[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758)</small>
** [[Cape elephantfish]], ''Callorhinchus capensis'' <small>([[André Marie Constant Duméril|Duméril]], 1865)</small>
** [[Australian ghost shark]], ''Callorhinchus milii'' <small>[[Jean Baptiste Bory de Saint-Vincent|Bory de Saint-Vincent]], 1823</small>
* Genus ''[[Edaphodon]]''
**''[[Edaphodon agassizi]]'' <small>[[William Buckland|Buckland]], 1835</small>
**''[[Edaphodon antwerpiensis]]'' <small>[[M. Leriche|Leriche]], 1926</small>
**''[[Edaphodon bucklandi]]'' <small>[[Louis Agassiz|Agassiz]], 1843</small>
**''[[Edaphodon eyrensis]] <small>[[J.A. Long|Long]], 1985</small>
**''[[Edaphodon kawai]]'' <small>[[Christopher Consoli|Consoli]], 2006</small>
**''[[Edaphodon laqueatus]]'' <small>[[Joseph Leidy|Leidy]], 1873</small>
**''[[Edaphodon leptognathus]]'' - (''has not been formally classified'') <small>[[Louis Agassiz|Agassiz]]</small>
**''[[Edaphodon minor]]''
**''[[Edaphodon mirabilis]]'' - (''has not been formally classified'')
**''[[Edaphodon mirificus]]'' <small>[[Joseph Leidy|Leidy]], 1856</small>
**''[[Edaphodon sedgwicki]]''
**''[[Edaphodon smocki]]'' <small>[[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]]</small>
**''[[Edaphodon stenobryus]]'' <small>[[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]]</small>
**''[[Edaphodon tripartitus]]'' <small>[[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]]</small>
[[Image:Chimaera monstrosa.png|thumb|right|240px|''[[Chimaera monstrosa]]'']]
Family [[Chimaeridae]]
* Genus ''[[Chimaera (fish)|Chimaera]]''
** ''[[Chimaera cubana]]'' <small>Howell Rivero, 1936</small>
** ''[[Chimaera jordani]]'' <small>Tanaka, 1905</small>
** [[Carpenter's chimaera]], ''Chimaera lignaria'' <small>Didier, 2002</small>
** ''[[Chimaera monstrosa]]'' <small>[[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758</small>
** ''[[Chimaera owstoni]]'' <small>Tanaka, 1905</small>
** ''[[Chimaera panthera]]'' <small>Didier, 1998</small>
** [[Silver chimaera]], ''Chimaera phantasma'' <small>[[David Starr Jordan|Jordan]] & Snyder, 1900</small>
[[Image:Hydrolagus affinis.jpg|thumb|240px|[[Smalleyed rabbitfish]], ''Hydrolagus affinis'']]
* Genus ''[[Hydrolagus]]''
** [[Smalleyed rabbitfish]], ''Hydrolagus affinis'' <small>(de Brito Capello, 1868)</small>
** [[African chimaera]], ''Hydrolagus africanus'' <small>(Gilchrist, 1922)</small>
** ''[[Hydrolagus alberti]]'' <small>Bigelow & Schroeder, 1951</small>
** ''[[Hydrolagus alphus]]'' <small>Quaranta et al., 2006</small>.<ref>{{cite journal | journal = Zootaxa | url = http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2006f/z01377p045f.pdf | volume = 1377 | year = 2006 | pages = 33–45 | title = A new species of chimaeroid, Hydrolagus alphus sp. nov. (Chimaeriformes: Chimaeridae) from the Galapagos Islands | author = Quaranta et al.}}</ref>
** ''[[Hydrolagus barbouri]]'' <small>([[Samuel Garman|Garman]], 1908)</small>
** [[Pale ghost shark]], ''Hydrolagus bemisi'' <small>Didier, 2002</small>
** [[Spotted ratfish]], ''Hydrolagus colliei'' <small>(Lay & Bennett, 1839)</small>
** [[Philippine chimaera]], ''Hydrolagus deani'' <small>(Smith & Radcliffe, 1912)</small>
** ''[[Hydrolagus eidolon]]'' <small>([[David Starr Jordan|Jordan]] & Hubbs, 1925)</small>
** [[Blackfin ghostshark]], ''Hydrolagus lemures'' <small>(Whitley, 1939)</small>
** ''[[Hydrolagus macrophthalmus]]'' <small>de Buen, 1959</small>
** ''[[Hydrolagus matallanasi]]'' <small>Sotto & Vooren, 2004</small>
** ''[[Hydrolagus mccoskeri]]''
** ''[[Hydrolagus media]]'' <small>([[Samuel Garman|Garman]], 1911)</small>.
** [[Large-eyed rabbitfish]], ''Hydrolagus mirabilis'' <small>(Collett, 1904)</small>
** Spookfish, ''[[Hydrolagus mitsukurii]]'' <small>([[David Starr Jordan|Jordan]] & Snyder, 1904)</small>.
** [[Dark ghost shark]], ''Hydrolagus novaezealandiae'' <small>(Fowler, 1911)</small>
** ''[[Hydrolagus ogilbyi]]'' <small>(Waite, 1898)</small>
** ''[[Hydrolagus pallidus]]'' <small>Hardy & Stehmann, 1990</small>
** [[Purple chimaera]], ''Hydrolagus purpurescens'' <small>(Gilbert, 1905)</small>
** [[Pointy-nosed blue chimaera]], ''Hydrolagus trolli'' <small>Didier & Séret, 2002</small>
** ''[[Hydrolagus waitei]]'' <small>Fowler, 1908</small>
Family [[Rhinochimaeridae]]
* Genus ''[[Harriotta]]''
** [[Smallspine spookfish]], ''Harriotta haeckeli'' <small>Karrer, 1972</small>
** [[Narrownose chimaera]], ''Harriotta raleighana'' <small>Goode & Bean, 1895</small>.[[Image:Harriotta raleighana.jpg|thumb|240px|[[Narrownose chimaera]], ''Harriotta raleighana'']]
* Genus ''[[Neoharriotta]]''
** ''[[Neoharriotta carri]]'' <small>Bullis & Carpenter, 1966</small>
** [[Sicklefin chimaera]], ''Neoharriotta pinnata'' <small>(Schnakenbeck, 1931)</small>
** ''[[Neoharriotta pumila]]'' <small>Didier & Stehmann, 1996</small>
* Genus ''[[Rhinochimaera]]''
** ''[[Rhinochimaera africana]]'' <small>Compagno, Stehmann & Ebert, 1990</small>
** [[Spearnose chimaera]], ''Rhinochimaera atlantica'' <small>Holt & Byrne, 1909</small>
** [[Pacific spookfish]], ''Rhinochimaera pacifica'' <small>(Mitsukuri, 1895)</small>
==References==
* {{FishBase order | order = Chimaeriformes | month = January | year = 2006}}
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{{Chondrichthyes}}
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