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Species: Chimaera bahamaensis, Bahamas Ghost-shark, Bahamas Chimaera

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body uniform; fins slightly darker
D1 low, short base
D2 high, long base, rear 1/3 higher
pectorals long
pelvics long
A present

Chimaera bahamaensis Kemper, Ebert, Didier & Compagno, 2010

Bahamas Ghost-shark, Bahamas Chimaera

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 732-1506 m.

Benthopelagic over soft and hard bottoms

Currently known only from the Bahamas.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Offshore
  • Offshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom
  • Bottom + water column
  • Near Bottom
Habitat
  • Rocks
  • Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
  • Water column
  • Reef and soft bottom
FishBase Habitat
  • Bentho-Pelagic
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • Data
Diet
  • Data
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
  • Mobile benthic worms
  • Sea-stars/cucumbers/urchins
Egg Type
  • Benthic
  • Data
  • No pelagic larva
  • No pelagic phase
Global Endemism
  • All species
  • Greater Caribbean endemic
  • West Atlantic Endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Bahamas endemic
  • GC endemic
  • Island (s)
  • Island (s) only
  • All species
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
IUCN Red List
  • Least concern
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 88
Depth Range Min
  • 732
Depth Range Max
  • 1506