Cape chimaera (Chimaera notafricana)

Scientific name: Chimaera notafricana Kemper, Ebert, Compagno & Didier, 2010

Cape chimaera (Chimaera notafricana)

The Cape chimaera (Chimaera notafricana) is a marine fish of the family Chimaeridae. Native range: Southeast Atlantic, from off L?deritz, Namibia, around the Cape of Good Hope and eastwards to Algoa Bay, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Biology

This species was assigned to the genus Chimaera based on the presence of an anal fin which is separate from the ventral caudal margin by a notch. It is distinguished from its congeners by a set of characters: uniform blackish brown color with dark bluish streaking and precaudal tail with longitudinal light and dark stripes; dorsal spine when depressed reaches beyond origin of second dorsal fin; large triangular pectoral fins, when depressed reaches just to pelvic-fin origin; caudal fin ventral margin ending very slightly posterior to caudal fin dorsal margin insertion; males with short pelvic claspers that are externally trifid, 12.1-12.3% BDL, not extending past distal tip of pelvic fins, divided for distal one-third of length; distance from anterior base of dorsal fin spine to center of supratemporal canal short, 6.5-14.8% HDL.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Chimaera notafricana
Family
Chimaeridae (Shortnose chimaeras or ratfishes)
Order
Chimaeriformes (Chimaeras)
Class
Holocephali (Chimaeras)
Maximum length
83.7
Depth range
680–1000 m (2231–3281 ft)
Environment
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 680 - 1000 m
Climate
Deep-water
Distribution
Southeast Atlantic: from off L?deritz, Namibia, around the Cape of Good Hope and eastwards to Algoa Bay, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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