Chimaera macrospina Didier, Last & White, 2008
Longspine chimaera
photo by Graham, K.

Family:  Chimaeridae (Shortnose chimaeras or ratfishes)
Max. size:  93.9 cm TL (male/unsexed); 103.4 cm TL (female)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 435 - 1190 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific area of Australia.
Diagnosis:  This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: skin thin and deciduous; color uniformly chocolate brown; preopercular and oral lateral line canals usually sharing a common branch; long dorsal spine, longer than first dorsal fin; adult male with short claspers (11-13% BDL), trifurcate, divided at about distal third of clasper; structure of the CO1 gene (Ref. 76965).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 18 February 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.