Rabbit fish (Chimaera monstrosa) fish species and information / pictures of Rabbit fish - Chimaera monstrosa

Rabbit fish (Chimaera monstrosa) fish species information

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Scientific Name
Chimaera monstrosa

Common Name
Rabbit fish

Biology
Bathydemersal to benthopelagic generally between 300 and 500 m depth. Found in the upper continental slope. Usually found in deeper waters in southern latitudes, while making a summer inshore migration up to 40-100 m in the northern areas. Sluggish, usually occurring in small groups. Feeds mainly on bottom-living invertebrates. The single dorsal spine is sharp and pointed, and although only mildly venomous can inflict a painful wound. Oviparous. Males have a clasper on the forehead that is probably used to hold on to the female during copulation. Egg capsules are about 17 cm long; young look alike adults and hatch when 10 cm long. Common by-catch when trawling for shrimps in the North Sea or Skaggerak.

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Chimaeras (Holocephali)

Order

Chimaeras (Chimaeriformes)

Family

Shortnose chimaeras or ratfishes (Chimaeridae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: northern Norway and Iceland, Skagerrak and Kattegat south to Morocco including western Mediterranean , Azores and Madeira Islands. Records from South Africa are questionable. Reported from Oshima, Japan.

Range

75°N - 27°N, 32°W - 35°E

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

40 m

Depth To - meters

1000 m

Zone

bathydemersal

Environment

Marine; bathydemersal; oceanodromous ; depth range 40 - 1000 m , usually 300 - 500 m

Trophic Level

3.5 s.e. 0.59 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

150 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5001 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (74 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming Fec

Threat To Humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 4690)

IUCN Red List Status

Near Threatened (NT)