Holocephali (chimaeras) >
Chimaeriformes (Chimaeras) >
Chimaeridae (Shortnose chimaeras or ratfishes)
Etymology: Chimaera: Named for the mythological creature composed of parts of multiple animals, referring to their odd mix of characteristics (See ETYFish); macrospina: macro-, from makros (L.), long; spina (L.), thorn or spine, referring to long dorsal spine, taller than dorsal fin (See ETYFish).
More on authors: Didier, Last & White.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 435 - 1190 m (Ref. 76965). Temperate
Indo-West Pacific area of Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 93.9 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 76965); 103.4 cm TL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
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).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Didier, D.A., P.R. Last and W.T. White, 2008. Three new species of the genus Chimaera Linnaeus (Chimaeriformes: Chimaeridae) from Australia. In Last, P.R., White, W.T. & Pogonoski, J.J. (eds.): Descriptions of New Australian Chondrichthyans. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Paper no. 22. (Ref. 76965)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00331 (0.00137 - 0.00798), b=3.07 (2.86 - 3.28), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.7 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): High vulnerability (62 of 100).