Morphology Data of Chimaera notafricana
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Kemper, J.M., D.A. Ebert, L.J.V. Compagno and D.A. Didier, 2010
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral elongated
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

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 (Ref. 84536).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Chimaera notafricana

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
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