Rhinochimaera pacifica (Mitsukuri, 1895)
Pacific spookfish
Rhinochimaera pacifica
photo by Reyes, P.

Family:  Rhinochimaeridae (Longnose chimaeras)
Max. size:  159 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 3,205.0 g
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 330 - 1490 m
Distribution:  Pacific Ocean: Japanese Archipelago to the South China Sea, and off Australasia and Peru.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. Pale brown dorsally, grey-brown ventrally; snout and front of head white (Ref. 26346). A spookfish with a very long, narrow, conical snout, a small eye situated behind the mouth, a rather long first dorsal fin and spine, relatively smooth tooth plates, and with the lower caudal-fin lobe longer than the upper lobe (Ref. 6871).
Biology:  Found on the continental slope (Ref. 7300). Maximum length 130 cm without caudal filament (Ref. 26346). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Eggs are encased in horny shells (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 05 May 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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