Rhinochimaeridae

The Rhinochimaeridae, commonly known as long-nosed chimaeras,^[1] 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.^[2] 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.^[4]

Rhinochimaeridae Temporal range: Santonian to recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Narrownose chimaera (Harriotta raleighana)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	Holocephali
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.^[4] In August 2020, a long-nosed chimaera was brought up from 460 fathoms (2,760 ft; 840 m) off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.^[5]

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 4,300 ft (1,300 m) deep

Species

The eight known species are in three genera:^[4]

Family Rhinochimaeridae

• Genus Harriotta Goode & Bean, 1895 (Late Cretaceous to present)
  • 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)
• Genus †Amylodon Storms, 1895 (Late Cretaceous-Paleogene)

References

1. McMillan, Elizabeth (2016-03-07). "Creepy deepwater fish surprises Nova Scotia fisherman". CBC News. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
2. McEachran, J.; Fechhelm, J.D. (1998). Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico, Vol. 1: Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. Austin: University of Texas Press. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-292-75206-1. OCLC 38468784. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
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.
4. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Family Rhinochimaeridae". FishBase. January 2009 version.
5. White, Jen (2020-08-22). "What in the heck was that?': Fisherman shocked to haul in long-nosed chimaera". CBC News. Retrieved 2020-08-22.

External links

• Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Family Rhinochimaeridae". FishBase. February 2011 version.