Pacific Spookfish, Rhinochimaera pacifica (Mitsukuri, 1895)

Scientific name: Rhinochimaera pacifica
Pacific Spookfish, <i>Rhinochimaera pacifica</i> Click to enlarge image
A juvenile Pacific Spookfish trawled during the NORFANZ expedition at a depth between the surface and 1750m in the Tasman Sea, 19 May 2003. The fish is registered in the Ichthyology Collection of the National Museum of New Zealand (NMNZ P.39534) Image: NORFANZ Founding Parties
© NORFANZ Founding Parties

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Species
    pacifica
    Genus
    Rhinochimaera
    Family
    Rhinochimaeridae
    Order
    Chimaeriformes
    Class
    Chondrichthyes
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The Pacific Spookfish grows to over 1.2 m in length (without the caudal filament).

Introduction

The Pacific Spookfish is a very strange-looking, deepsea fish that has has a long, flexible snout.

Identification

The Pacific Spookfish has a long, flexible snout, small eyes and smooth tooth plates. It has two dorsal fins, the first is short-based and tall with a strong spine. The second is long-based and low. The species has a long caudal fin, the upper lobe of which has a row of fleshy tubercles.

It is brown above and grey-brown below. It has a white snout and black teeth.

Pacific Spookfish, Rhinochimaera pacifica
A juvenile Pacific Spookfish trawled during the NORFANZ expedition at a depth between the surface and 1750m in the Tasman Sea, 19 May 2003. The fish is registered in the Ichthyology Collection of the National Museum of New Zealand (NMNZ P.39534) Image: NORFANZ Founding parties
© NORFANZ Founding Parties

Habitat

It is known from depths of 760m to 1290m.

Distribution

The species is found in scattered localities in the Western Indian and Pacific Oceans.

References

  1. Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 1994 Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. Pp. 513.
  2. Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia.Second edition. CSIRO. Pp. 644