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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Rhinochimaeridae (longnose chimaeras)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Chondrichthyes > Holocephalii > Chimaeriformes > Rhinochimaeridae

Deep-water, pinkish-white to black chimaeras with a long, straight, attenuated, pointed snout, low second dorsal fin, large broad-based anal fin present or absent, and caudal fin with its axis not raised or slightly raised above the body axis. 6 species, 4 in the area.

Species found in southern Africa

Harriotta raleighana (Narrownose chimaera)

A dark-brown or blackish longnose chimaera with a narrow, slightly flattened snout, blunt-edged ridged tooth plates, short, broad pectoral fins, no anal fin, and a caudal fin without tubercles on its upper edge and a long terminal filament.

Neoharriotta pinnata (Sicklefin chimaera)

A dark brown longnose chimaera with a narrow, slightly flattened snout, blunt-edged, ridged tooth plates short, broad pectoral fins, a large curved anal fin, and a caudal fin without tubercles on its upper edge and a short terminal filament.

Rhinochimaera atlantica (Broadnose chimaera)

A whitish to light brown longnose chimaera with a long, narrow, moderately flattened, pointed snout, sharp-edged smooth tooth plates, narrow pectoral fins, no anal fin, and a caudal fin with a very short terminal filament and wide-spaced tubercles on its upper edge in adults and large juveniles.

Rhinochimaera africana (Paddlenose chimaera)

A blackish-brown longnose chimaera with a broad, greatly elongated, paddle-shaped snout, sharp-edged smooth tooth plates, narrow pectoral fins, no anal fin, and a caudal fin with a very short terminal filament and wide-spaced tubercles on its upper edge.

Text by Leonard J.V. Compagno, David A. Ebert and Malcolm J. Smale