They are 150 million years older than dinosaurs, look like a shark, have a tail like a rat, teeth like a rabbit, and sharp, venomous spines.

Deep in the ocean there is an ancient fish that glides by the flapping of its wing-like pectoral fins rather than the noisy swish of its tail. They look similar to shark But with larger eyes, a more prominent snout, and a single visible gill opening.

These are chimera fish, also known as ghost sharks, ratfishes, and rabbitfishes. They diverged from sharks and rays about 400 million years ago, but about 50 species can still be found in our seas today.

What is a chimera?

Also known as ghost sharks, chimera fish are not true sharks but are very similar to sharks and rays and have a common ancestor – these cartilaginous fishes separated from… elasmobranchs About 400 million years ago. There are about 50 known species of chimeras, but because they tend to live in very deep waters, scientists still have a lot to discover about them.

What do you look like?

Chimeras look like a bunch of different animals, which might explain why they have so many common names. These strange fish have large eyes and pale and sometimes translucent skin which makes them look rather strange, hence they are sometimes called ghost sharks or ghost fish. They have long, thin tails like rodents (also known as ratfish) and prominent front teeth like a rabbit (you guessed it, sometimes referred to as rabbitfish).

The combination of all these different features is also why it is called a chimera. The name is a reference to the chimera from Greek mythology: a fire-breathing combination of a lion, a goat, and a serpent.

How big is the chimera?

Its length ranges from 60 cm to 2 meters depending on the species, and its weight usually reaches about 4 kg.

Where do Chimaeras live?

Chimeras live in all oceans except the polar regions. Although some species can be found in shallow waters, they usually live hundreds or thousands of meters deep. Because they feed on animals that burrow at the bottom of the sea, ghost sharks spend most of their lives near the ocean seabedUsually, between 200 and 2600 metres.

What do they eat?

They find and catch small animals hidden on the sea floor, e.g lobster, Worms and Sea urchins.

How do you catch Chimaeras?

Chimaeras have a prominent snout covered in electroreceptors. Like sharks, this network of sensory pores is known as Lorenzini ampoules – It can pick up small electrical currents in the water and help the animal detect hidden prey.

Because many of their prey are hard-bodied invertebrates External structuresThese fish have three pairs of strong, serrated plates designed to grind shells.

True sharks continually lose their teeth throughout their lives and grow new ones to replace them. But chimeras continue to grow their tooth plates throughout their lives to repair wear caused by grinding hard shells.

How do they reproduce?

Like some species of sharks, ghost sharks lay eggs. The strangest thing about their breed lies in the middle of their forehead. Male chimeras have a retractable organ called a manipulator on their heads. This tiny nobi is covered in small tooth-like scales called teeth which help the male grasp the female during mating.

Are they dangerous to humans?

Generally no. You’ll probably never see one of these deep-sea ghost sharks in your entire life, and if you do, they’ll be more interested in nibbling on their usual prey — tiny creatures that live on the sea floor — than targeting you.

However, they will defend themselves if they need to. Deep sea fishermen have been left with severe toxic wounds vertebral column In these fish, wounds must sometimes be treated under general anesthesia.

Are they under threat?

Yes. A 2024 report He highlighted that one-third SharksRays and chimeras around the world are threatened with extinction, largely due to overhunting. Although there is not much data on the conservation status of these little-studied animals, some scientists are concerned that the population may face difficulties.