Chimaera monstrosa
Chimaera monstrosa Linnaeus, 1758
Rabbit fish
Chimaera monstrosa
photo by Svensen, E.

Family:  Chimaeridae (Shortnose chimaeras or ratfishes)
Max. size:  150 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 2,500.0 g
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 40 - 1400 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Northeast Atlantic (widespread), including the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the Mediterranean Sea.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Bathydemersal to benthopelagic generally between 300 and 500 m depth. Found in the upper continental slope. Usually found in deeper waters in southern latitudes, while making a summer inshore migration up to 40-100 m in the northern areas. Sluggish, usually occurring in small groups. Feeds mainly on bottom-living invertebrates. The single dorsal spine is sharp and pointed, and although only mildly venomous can inflict a painful wound. Oviparous. Males have a clasper on the forehead that is probably used to hold on to the female during copulation. Egg capsules are about 17 cm long; young look alike adults and hatch when 10 cm long. Common by-catch when trawling for shrimps in the North Sea or Skaggerak.
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 02 September 2019 (A2bd) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  traumatogenic


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.