CHIMAERA

CHARACTERISTICS

• Oldest and most enigmatic groups of fishes alive today
• Have elongated, soft bodies, bulky heads and a single gill-opening
• They are able to grow up to 150 cm (roughly 5 ft) in length
• Are the only vertebrates to retain traces of a third pair of limbs

PREY

• Equipped with a venomous spine located in front of the dorsal fin
• Eat small squids and crustaceans such as lobster, crab & shrimp
• Capable of eating them because they have powerful grinding teeth

REPRODUCTION

• Lay eggs with leathery cases
• Many species lay 2 eggs every
• Gestation period lasts 12 months

HABITAT & RANGE

• Temperate oceans throughout the world, mostly in deep water
• Closely related to sharks
• Rarely seen in shallow water, like to stay hidden