The Rhinochimaeridae, commonly known as long-nosed chimaeras, 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. The first dorsal fin includes a mildly venomous spine, used in defense.
Long-nosed chimaeras are found in temperate and tropical seas worldwide, from in depth. In August 2020, a long-nosed chimaera was brought up from off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.
They range from in maximum total length, depending on species.
Species
The nine known species are in three genera:
Family Rhinochimaeridae
- Genus Neoharriotta <small>Bigelow & Schroeder, 1950</small>
- Neoharriotta carri <small>Bullis & J. S. Carpenter, 1966</small> (dwarf sicklefin chimaera)
- Neoharriotta pinnata <small>Schnakenbeck, 1931</small> (sicklefin chimaera)
- Neoharriotta pumila <small>Didier & Stehmann, 1996</small> (Arabian sicklefin chimaera)
- Genus Rhinochimaera <small>Garman, 1901</small>
- Rhinochimaera africana <small>Compagno, Stehmann & Ebert, 1990</small> (paddlenose chimaera)
- Rhinochimaera atlantica <small>Holt & Byrne, 1909</small> (broadnose chimaera)
- Rhinochimaera pacifica <small>Mitsukuri, 1895</small> (Pacific spookfish)
- Genus Amylodon <small>Storms, 1895</small> (Late Cretaceous-Paleogene)
References
External links