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Eastern Pacific black chimaera

6/10/2019

 
Picture
Chimaera orientalis ANGULO, LÓPEZ, BUSSING & MURASE, 2014 © Arturo Angulo Sibaja, Universidad de Costa Rica; Paratype: UCR 2909–05.02, male, 760 mm TL, 475 mm BDL
​Part of the Chimaeridae family, our next deep-sea critter happens to be found in the eastern Pacific region (most observations in Costa Rican and Peru waters). But first, a quick #finfact! Did you know that ‘chimaera’ is Latin for “marine monster”? It certainly doesn’t look like a monster to us!
​The Eastern Pacific black chimaera, scientifically known as Chimaera orientalis, prefers the deep waters like others in their family. Having a depth range of 560-1138 meters, little is known about this critter. A male specimen measured a total of 17.6cm total length (TL), so it is a decent-sized animal. Like the common name states, it is a black to dark-brown colour, with their underbelly and their fins all being even a darker shade.
 
Another #finfact about this chimaera: they have an anal fin! It’s what sets them apart from other chimaeras that look like it. Well, that and they have a long dorsal spine that is longer than their first dorsal fin (which is pretty high, even with a short base). We know nothing else about their biology, and the IUCN has not even assessed them!

WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THIS ANIMAL?

GLOSSARY

  • ​IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature.​​

SAY HELLO!

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    Author

    TFUI Founder Melissa C. Marquez is author of all animal bios and "Behind the Fins" segments.
    ​
    A proud #LatinainSTEM, Marquez is a marine biologist who focuses on shark habitat use and movements; she is also a science communicator (follow her on Twitter) who focuses on diverse Chondrichthyan education and who focuses on the media coverage of sharks.
    You can learn more about her on her website.

    SEE MELISSA'S TEDx TALK HERE:

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  • About TFUI
    • TFUI Origins >
      • About TFUI Founder Melissa
      • TFUI Officers
    • Take a Bite
    • Get Involved
    • FAQ
  • Bite Blog
  • Education
    • The Sharks >
      • Shark Anatomy
    • The Skates & Rays
    • The Chimaeras
    • Why Environments Matter
    • The Threats
    • Open Access >
      • Behind the Fins: Interview series
      • Bite into Research
      • Shark Bites: Book Recommendations
      • Sustainable Seafood Apps
  • Fins United
    • Shark Party Ideas
    • Little Fins Nursery
    • Big Fins Reef
  • Contact