The paddlenose chimaera or paddlenose spookfish (Rhinochimaera africana) is a species of marine cartilaginous fish in the family Rhinochimaeridae found near China, Japan, Mozambique, South Africa, and Taiwan.L. J. V. Compagno, M. Stehmann & D. A. Ebert, 1990. Rhinochimaera africana, a new longnose chimaera from southern Africa, with comments on the systematics and distribution of the genus Rhinochimaera Garman, 1901 (Chondrichthyes, Chimaeriformes, Rhinochimaeridae), South African Journal of Marine Science, 9:1, 201-222, doi: 10.2989/025776190784378646
Taxonomy Chimaeras are cartilaginous fishes sharing the class Chondrichthyes with sharks and rays. The family Rhinochimaeridae is one of three in the order Chimaeriformes. They are also known as long-nose chimaeras, different from plough-nosed and short-nosed chimaera by their elongated snouts that are either conical or broadened to a paddle-like shape at the anterior end McEachran, J.; Fechhelm, J.D, 1998. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico, Vol. 1: Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes. Austin: University of Texas Press. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-292-75206-1. OCLC 38468784. Rhinochimaera is one of 3 genuses in the family Rhinochimaeridae.
Appearance
It has an elongated, slightly compressed body form. The 2 dorsal fins are separated, and the anterior dorsal fin is led by a hard spine. It possesses a subterminal mouth with flat tooth plates. The name comes from the broad, elongated snout that contains nerve endings on the inferior side meant to detect prey on the sea floor. The snout doesn't broaden before tapering, unlike the related Rhinochimaera pacifica. Angulo, A., M.I. López, W.A. Bussing and A. Murase, 2014. Records of chimaeroid fishes (Holocephali: Chimaeriformes) from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, with the description of a new species of Chimera (Chimaeridae) from the eastern Pacific Ocean. Zootaxa 3861(6):554-574
Life History Paddlenose Chimaera are oviparous, and lay 2 eggs at a time. Their eggs are elongated and protected by a rough, hard casing. Adults are benthic feeders, found in waters deeper than 500m. Its diet likely consists of shelled invertebrates, given its flat tooth plates. Longevity of this particular species is unknown, but chimaera species have relatively long lifespans, possibly living more than 30 years.Schultz, Leonard P., . Breder Jr., Charles M., & Rosen, Donn Eric., 1967. Reproduction in Fishes: Modes of Reproduction in Fishes. Science, 155, 684-684. doi:10.1126/science.155.3763.684.b
Conservation Currently considered a species with no sustainability concerns. Finucci, Brittany; Cheok, Jessica; Ebert, David A.; Herman, Katelyn; Kyne, Peter M.; Dulvy, Nicholas K.,2021). "Ghosts of the deep – Biodiversity, fisheries, and extinction risk of ghost sharks". Fish and Fisheries. 22 (2): 391–412. doi:10.1111/faf.12526 Listed under Least Concern by the IUCN Redlist.
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