| Family: |
Callorhinchidae (Plownose chimaeras) |
| Max. size: |
122 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 5,250.0 g |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 10 - 374 m |
| Distribution: |
Southeast Atlantic: Namibia to the Cape and Natal in South Africa (Ref. 5578, 58304). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 1-1. An elephant fish with a hoe-like snout and arched caudal fin (Ref. 5578). Silvery or bronzy with brown markings on flanks and head; fin webs brown (Ref. 5578). |
| Biology: |
Found from close inshore and shallow bays to the slope (Ref. 5578). Feeds on small fish and a wide variety of invertebrates (Ref. 27121). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Produces egg-cases that are spindle shaped, with broad horizontal flanges (Ref. 36731). This species is known to host on its gills monogenean parasites Callorhynchocotyle callorhynchi (Manter, 1955) (Hexabothriidae) and Callorhynchicola multitesticulatus Manter, 1955 (Chimaericolidae) on its gills (Ref. 124045, 124046). Sold commercially as 'silver trumpeter' (Ref. 3180) and considered a delicacy in southern Africa (Ref. 27121). Minimum depth reported from Ref. 7403. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 02 September 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
traumatogenic |
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