CHIMAERIFORMES


  • Arose 150 million years ago
  • Chimaera, is the common name for members of any of the thirty species of deep water cartilaginous fishes related to sharks
  • Subclass: Holocephalans
  • Some species reach more than 2 m  (6 ft) in length
  • They feed on smaller animals, such as molluscs, in temperate oceans
  • Scaleless skin and large eyes 
  • Ratfishes have long tails and poisonous spines in front of dorsal fin

  •  

Typical Ratfish
Drawing by Chris Moles (cmoles@chat.carleton.ca)
from Stafford-Deitsch

bharris@chat.carleton.ca