Shortspine chimaera

Species of cartilaginous fish

Shortspine chimaera

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Scientific classification
Domain:  | Eukaryota
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Chordata
Class:  | Chondrichthyes
Subclass:  | Holocephali
Order:  | Chimaeriformes
Family:  | Chimaeridae
Genus:  | Chimaera
Species:  |

C. obscura

Binomial name
Chimaera obscura

Didier, Last & White, 2008

The shortspine chimaera (Chimaera obscura), also commonly known as the short spine chimaera, is a chimaera species in the family Chimaeridae, which lives off of the east coast of Australia.

## Description[edit]

The shortspine chimaera is similar to the other species in its genus, but of uniformly dark brown to black colour.[2] It has a robust body, and has a shorter spine than first dorsal fin. Although it has a similar range and appearance to the southern chimaera, the shortspine chimaera is darker in colour and smaller.[3] A maximum size of at least 95 cm total length (including tail) and 53 cm body length (excluding tail) in females has been reported.[1][4]

## Distribution and habitat[edit]

The shortspine chimaera is a subtropical species,[2] inhabiting the upper to mid continental slope on the east coast of Australia, at depths of around 450-1,080 m,[5] although it most commonly lives in waters deeper than 1,025 m. In particular, the species is found near Tuncurry, New South Wales; sightings have been reported in other spots on the east coast, from Ulladulla to Queensland, but it is probable that these are actually a different species.[1] It is not targeted commercially, and most fisheries trawl in waters shallower than where the species typically lives, so no conservation actions are currently taking place for the species; however, it may be a bycatch for deepwater fisheries. The exact population of the species is unknown, but is listed as least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.[1]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Kyne, P.M. (2020). "Chimaera obscura". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T195432A124541630. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T195432A124541630.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
2. ^ a b Capuli, Estelita Emily. "Chimaera obscura, Shortspine chimaera". FishBase. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
3. ^ Reardon, Matt B.; Bray, Dlanne J. "Chimaera obscura". Fishes of Australia. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
4. ^ Froese, R.; Pauly, D. "Chimaera obscura Didier, Last & White, 2008". WoRMS. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
5. ^ Carrier, Jeffrey C.; Musick, John A.; Heithaus, Michael R. (2010). Sharks and Their Relatives II: Biodiversity, Adaptive Physiology, and Conservation (Illustrated ed.). CRC Press. p. 78\. ISBN 1420080482. Retrieved 3 November 2018.

Taxon identifiers

Chimaera obscura|

* Wikidata: Q2667344
* Wikispecies: Chimaera obscura
* AFD: Chimaera_obscura
* BOLD: 202053
* CoL: 69S9H
* FishBase: 64160
* GBIF: 2417335
* iNaturalist: 188781
* IRMNG: 11461800
* IUCN: 195432
* NCBI: 1927887
* OBIS: 398338
* Open Tree of Life: 4949807
* WoRMS: 398338