Family RHINOCHIMAERIDAE

Rhinochimaeridae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

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Introduction

Three genera and at least eight species are currently recognised in the Rhinochimaeridae. One genus is restricted to the Atlantic, the other two are found in the Atlantic and Pacific. Four species from two genera are recorded from Australian waters (Last & Stevens 1994, 2009).

Longnose chimaeras live over the continental slope in depths of 200-2600 m. They are ovoviviparous and reach a maximum size of about 1.5 m (excluding the caudal filament). Little is known of their habits.

The various species of longnose chimaeras have been studied by Bigelow & Schroeder (1953), Bullis & Carpenter (1966), Garrick (1971), Karrer (1972), Garrick & Inada (1975) and Inada & Garrick (1979). Didier (1995) treated relationships of the family, and Compagno et al. (1990) discussed Rhinochimaera.

General References

Bigelow, H.B. & Schroeder, W.C. 1953. Chimaeroids. pp. 515-588, figs 118-127 in Parr, A.E. (ed.). Fishes of the western North Atlantic. Memoir. Sears Foundation of Marine Research 1(2): 1-599

Bullis, H.R. & Carpenter, J.S. 1966. Neoharriotta carri — a new species of Rhinochimaeridae from the southern Caribbean Sea. Copeia 1966(3): 443-450 figs 1-5

Compagno, L.J.V., Stehmann, M. & Ebert, D.A. 1990. Rhinochimaera africana sp. n., a new longnosed chimaera from southern Africa, with comments on the systematics and distribution of the genus Rhinochimaera Garman, 1901 (Chondrichthyes, Chimaeriformes, Rhinochimaeridae). South African Journal of Marine Science 9: 201-222

Didier, D.A. 1995. Phylogenetic systematics of extant chimaeroid fishes (Holocephali, Chimaeroidei). American Museum Novitates 3119: 1-86

Garrick, J.A.F. 1971. Harriotta raleighana, a long-nosed chimaera (family Rhinochimaeridae), in New Zealand waters. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 1(3/4): 203-213 fig. 1

Garrick, J.A.F. & Inada, T. 1975. Dimensions of long-nosed chimaera Harriotta raleighana from New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 9(2): 159-167

Inada, T. & Garrick, J.A.F. 1979. Rhinochimaera pacifica, a long-snouted chimaera (Rhinochimaeridae), in New Zealand waters. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 25(4): 235-243 figs 1-2

Karrer, C. 1972. Die Gattung Harriotta Goode und Bean, 1895 (Chondrichthys, Chimaeriformes, Rhinochimaeridae). Mitteilungen aus dem Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 48(1): 203-221 figs 1-5

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls.

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Australia 2, 550 pp.

Common Name References

Last, P.R., Scott, E.O.G. & Talbot, F.H. 1983. Fishes of Tasmania. Hobart : Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority 563 pp. figs. [169] (Long-nosed Ghost Sharks)

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls. [479] (Spookfishes)

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