Rhinochimaera pacifica (Mitsukuri, 1895) Pacific spookfish |
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 |