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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); willwatchi: In honor of the “hard-working” fishers onboard the Sealord Corporation fishing vessel Will Watch, from which holotype was collected (See ETYFish).
Eponymy: Not a true eponym as this is named after a ship’s company – the ‘hard-working’ fishers on board the Sealord Corporation fishing vessel ‘Will Watch’, from which the type was collected. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 89 - 1365 m (Ref. 116312). Tropical; 34°S - 40°S, 41°E - 59°E (Ref. 116312)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Southwestern Indian Ocean: Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, northern portion of the Madagascar Ridge, and Walters Shoal.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 83.4 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 116312); 97.1 cm TL (female)

This species is collected by midwater and bottom trawls. Maximum length for females is 64.5 cm BDL, 97.1+ cm TL, and for males 51.9 cm BDL, 83.4+ cm TL. The smallest free swimming individual is 11.8 cm BDL, 25.8 cm TL. Females are mature at 51.9 cm BDL, 76.7 cm TL, while males mature at 36.9 cm BDL, 63.8 cm TL (Ref. 116312).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Clerkin, P.J., Ebert, D.A. and J.M. Kemper, 2017. New species of Chimaera (Chondrichthyes: Holocephali: Chimaeriformes: Chimaeridae) from the Southwestern Indian Ocean. Zootaxa 4312(1):1-37. (Ref. 116312)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)

Data deficient (DD) ; Date assessed: 02 September 2019

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: bycatch

FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

More information

Trophic ecology
Food items
Diet composition
Food consumption
Food rations
Predators

Ecology
Ecology

Population dynamics
Growth parameters
Max. ages / sizes
Length-weight rel.
Length-length rel.
Length-frequencies
Mass conversion
Recruitment
Abundance

Life cycle
Reproduction
Maturity
Maturity/Gills rel.
Fecundity
Spawning
Spawning aggregations
Eggs
Egg development
Larvae
Larval dynamics

Distribution
Countries
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Introductions
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Anatomy
Gill area
Brain
Otolith

Physiology
Body composition
Nutrients
Oxygen consumption
Swimming type
Swimming speed
Visual pigments
Fish sound
Diseases & Parasites
Toxicity (LC50s)

Genetics
Genetics
Heterozygosity
Heritability

Human related
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Aquaculture profiles
Strains
Ciguatera cases
Stamps, coins, misc.

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Taxonomy
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References
References

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Summary page | Point data | Common names | Photos

Internet sources

Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 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): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Deepwater species with few large eggs.).

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): High vulnerability (59 of 100).

Chimaera willwatchi Clerkin, Ebert & Kemper, 2017