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); buccanigella: bucca (L.), cheek or cavity (i.e., mouth); nigella, dimunitive of niger (L.), dark, referring to dark marking directly around mouth (See ETYFish).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 495 - 960 m (Ref. 116312). Tropical
Distribution
Territories | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri
Southwestern Indian Ocean: Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge. High Seas only.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 86.1 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 116312); 76.5 cm TL (female)
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
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 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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