Rhinochimaera atlantica Holt & Byrne, 1909
Straightnose rabbitfish
photo by Dolgov, A.

Family:  Rhinochimaeridae (Longnose chimaeras)
Max. size:  140 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 200 - 1500 m
Distribution:  Northwest to Northeast Atlantic, and Southeast Atlantic: Antitropical. Eastern Atlantic: northern Bay of Biscay northward to Iceland, including the Iceland-Faroes Rise (Ref. 3183); off Cayar and Cape Barbas in Western Sahara, off Namibia and South Africa (Ref. 4444). Western Atlantic: off Nova Scotia, Canada and New England, USA (Ref. 3183).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. A longnose chimaera with a narrow, moderately flattened, pointed snout and smooth, sharp-edged tooth plates; pectoral fins narrow, and caudal fin with very short terminal filament and wide-spaced tubercles on upper edge (in adults and large juveniles) (Ref. 5578). Whitish to light brown in color (Ref. 5578).
Biology:  Found on or near the bottom of continental slopes (Ref. 5578). Forms groups according to sex and size (Ref. 5578). Feeds on shrimps and crabs (Ref. 27637). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Eggs are encased in horny shells (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 02 September 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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