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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); willwatchi: In honor of the “hard-working” fishers onboard the Sealord Corporation fishing vessel Will Watch, from which holotype was collected. (See ETYFish).

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 89 - 1365 m (Ref. 116312). Tropical; 34°S - 40°S, 41°E - 59°E (Ref. 116312)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Southwestern Indian Ocean: Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, northern portion of the Madagascar Ridge, and Walters Shoal.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 83.4 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 116312); 97.1 cm TL (female)

This species is collected by midwater and bottom trawls. Maximum length for females is 64.5 cm BDL, 97.1+ cm TL, and for males 51.9 cm BDL, 83.4+ cm TL. The smallest free swimming individual is 11.8 cm BDL, 25.8 cm TL. Females are mature at 51.9 cm BDL, 76.7 cm TL, while males mature at 36.9 cm BDL, 63.8 cm TL (Ref. 116312).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

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)

Data deficient (DD) ; Date assessed: 02 September 2019

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

More information

Trophic ecology
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Internet sources

Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00282 (0.00118 - 0.00673), b=3.10 (2.89 - 3.31), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 3.7 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Deepwater species with few large eggs.).

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): High vulnerability (59 of 100).

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Chimaera willwatchi Clerkin, Ebert & Kemper, 2017