Genus: Chimaera, Chimaera, Chimaeras, Shortnose Chimaera

CHIMAERA

CHIMAERAS

Body compressed, elongate, whit tapering tail; head very large; snout short, round, conical, blunt; eyes large, bright green; 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 large, triangular, erect, with a long spine at front, that spine attached to fin along lower 1/2-1/3 of fin, upper ½ never attached; 2nd dorsal fin low, long based, its border of even height along entire length, not indented in center; anal fin present, separated from lower lobe of tail fin by a deep notch; pectoral fins broad, triangular; pelvic fins broad, triangular; tail fin elongate, lance-like, both lobes about equal in height, with a whip-like rear filament; lateral line canals well developed, on head and body, noticeably open; skin smooth, no scales; males with large, 2-3 pointed sex organs.

The genus is worldwide, with 14 speces; two endemics in the GC