Species: Chimaera bahamensis, Bahamas ghost-shark, Bahamas chimaera

D2 high, long base, rear 1/3 higher

A present
Chimaera bahamaensis Kemper, Ebert, Didier & Compagno, 2010
Bahamas ghost-shark
Body compressed, elongate, with tapering tail; head very large (25% body length); snout short, blunt; eyes medium, oval (length 6.9% body length); nostrils large, before mouth, connected to outer corner of mouth by a deep groove covered with a flap; mouth under head; teeth are plates, 2 pairs above, 1 pair below; gill opening before pectoral, covered by fleshy operculum; 2 separate dorsal fins; 1st dorsal fin relatively low (height 14.4 % body length), base short (13.7% body length), triangular, rear edge concave, with a relatively short (23% body length) keeled, curved spine at front, that spine reaching past tip of that fin, free from dorsal fin for serrated upper ½ of its length, when depressed reaches to or past origin of 2nd dorsal fin; 2nd dorsal fin relatively high, height <65% height of 1st dorsal, long base (80.5% body length), its border relatively uniform in height & straight, but rear 1/3 highest, its base meeting base of upper tail fin lobe; anal fin present, low, with pointed tip, separate from lower lobe of tail fin by a notch; pectoral fins long (41% body length), broad, triangular, reach beyond origin of pelvic fins; pelvic fins relatively long (front edge 22.5% body length), broad; tail fin elongate, lance-like, both lobes about equal in height, lower lobe 13% longer than upper lobe, lower lobe relatively deep (height 4.4% of body length), with margin short (26.3% body length) extending on slightly beyond margin of top lobe, with a whip-like rear filament; lateral line canals well developed, on head and body noticeably open; skin smooth, no scales; male with large, 2 pointed sex organs, form unknown.
Head, body and fins uniform dark brown; fins slightly darker, dorsal spine paler.
Reaches 88 cm, body 52.8 cm
Depth range 1483-1506 m.
Currently known only from the Bahamas.

High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
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- Marine
- Marine Only
- Inshore/Offshore
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- Offshore Only
- Offshore
- Water Column Position
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- Bottom + water column
- Near Bottom
- Bottom
- Habitat
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- Water column
- FishBase Habitat
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- Bentho-Pelagic
- Feeding Group
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- Carnivore
- Data
- Diet
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- Sea-stars/cucumbers/urchins
- Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
- Mobile benthic worms
- Data
- Egg Type
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- No pelagic larva
- No pelagic phase
- Data
- Benthic
- Global Endemism
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- West Atlantic Endemic
- All species.
- Greater Caribbean endemic
- Regional Endemism
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- Bahamas endemic
- Island (s)
- GC endemic
- Island (s) only
- All species..
- Residency
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- Resident
- Climate Zone
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- Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
- IUCN Red List
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- Listed
- Least concern
- CITES
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- Not listed
- Depth Range Min
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- 1483
- Depth Range Max
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- 1506
- Length Max
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- 88