Whitefin chimaera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whitefin chimaera |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Chimaera
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| Species: |
argiloba
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The whitefin chimaera (Chimaera argiloba) is a unique type of fish. It belongs to the Chimaeridae family, which are often called "ghost sharks" because of their unusual appearance. You can find this fish in the Indian Ocean, mostly off the northwest coast of Australia. It lives deep underwater, usually between 370 and 520 meters (about 1,200 to 1,700 feet) below the surface. Even though it lives in a specific area, there are many of them there!
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What is a Whitefin Chimaera?
The whitefin chimaera gets its name from its features. The word Chimaera comes from Latin and means 'marine monster'. This might sound scary, but it just refers to their ancient and mysterious look. The second part of its scientific name, argiloba, is also very descriptive. Argi means 'white' in Greek, and loba is a Latin word for a 'rounded part'.
This name perfectly describes a special part of the fish: its first dorsal fin. This fin has a unique white, rounded tip that sticks out. This makes it easy to tell the whitefin chimaera apart from other similar fish.
How is it Different from Other Chimaeras?
There are many different kinds of fish in the Chimaera group. Some common ones include Chimaera obscura, C. cubana, and C. monstrosa. The whitefin chimaera (C. argiloba) looks a lot like C. phantasma, which lives in the Pacific Ocean. They have only small differences in their body shapes and colors.
The whitefin chimaera is usually a plain grey-silver color. This is different from some other chimaeras, like C. panthera or C. owstoni, which have dark patterns on their bodies. Other types, like C. lignaria, can be a lavender-blue, and many others are dark brown.
Whitefin Chimaera Features
The Chimaera group is part of a bigger family called Chimaeridae. Another group in this family is Hydrolagus, but those fish don't have an anal fin (a fin on their underside near the tail).
The whitefin chimaera has a medium-sized snout. From above, its snout looks narrow and pointed. But if you look at it from the side, it appears wider and pointed. On average, its head is about 10.7 centimeters (about 4 inches) long.
This fish can grow to be quite long, with a total length of over 90 centimeters (more than 3 feet)! It also has a large gill opening. This opening has a flap that sticks out from the base of its head. As mentioned before, the whitefin chimaera is mostly grey-silver on its sides and back. Its belly is a bit lighter in color.
Where Does it Live?
The whitefin chimaera is mainly found in the Indian Ocean, off the northwest coast of Australia. It doesn't live in many other places, but some have been seen near New Caledonia and Indonesia.
These fish prefer deep waters. They usually live at depths of 370 meters (about 1,200 feet) and can go even deeper, down to 520 meters (about 1,700 feet).
Are Whitefin Chimaeras in Danger?
The whitefin chimaera is not usually caught for food or sold in stores. However, it can sometimes be caught by accident. Fishing boats that are trying to catch other fish like teleost fish (bony fish) or prawns in northwest Australia might accidentally catch them.
Some fishing companies use special nets that go very deep, more than 300 meters (about 1,000 feet). These nets can sometimes scoop up whitefin chimaeras by mistake. Luckily, these fishing activities are not very common in the areas where the chimaeras live. Also, when these fish are caught by accident, they are usually still alive and are released back into the ocean. This helps keep their populations healthy.
