Also known as ghost shark, rat fish, and rabbit fish Chimaera Also known as ghost shark, rat fish, and rabbit fish (Chimaera Monstrosa)

Kingdom: Anamalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Subclass: holocephali Order: Chimaeriformes Family Chimaeridae Genus: Chimaera Species Monstrosa

Size Chimaeras are about 1.5m long or 5 ft, including their long whip-like tail. They reach 2.5 kg or 5.5 lbs.

location Seen from around 100ft to 3000ft they are usually found between 1000ft-1600ft found mostly in the eastern Atlantic

diet The Chimaera feeds on bottom dwelling invertebrates with its flat plate like teeth. Unlike other cartilaginous fish its teeth are connected to its scull.

Facts There is a spine on the Chimaera’s dorsal fin for defense, and although it is only mildly venomous can still inflict a painful wound. The Chimaera is not a true shark, it has characteristics obtaining to that of bony fish as well. Its teeth are connected to its scull, it does not have a strong caudal fin, but it has a cartilaginous body continuing its existence in the class chondrichthyes. It could be called a mix between bony fish and sharks

Human impact There is not much human impact on this animal due to its living in the deep water, however some of these fish are dying from being trapped in discarded fishing equipment that sinks to the bottom.