Chimaera opalescens

Luchetti, Iglésias & Sellos, 2011


Opal chimaera
Classification: Holocephali Chimaeriformes Chimaeridae

Reference of the original description
Luchetti, E.A. & Iglésias, S.P. & Sellos, D.Y. (2011)
Chimaera opalescens n. sp., a new chimaeroid (Chondrichthyes: Holocephali) from the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean. Journal of Fish Biology, 79(2), 399–417

Image of the original description
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Description :


Citation: Chimaera opalescens Luchetti, Iglésias & Sellos, 2011: In: Database of modern sharks, rays and chimaeras, www.shark-references.com, World Wide Web electronic publication, Version 03/2024

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Chimaera opalescens Luchetti, Iglésias & Sellos, 2011, Azores © Diana Catarino, OKEANOS Centre, University of the Azores, Horta, Portugal
Common names
eng Opal chimaera

Short Description
Chimaera opalescens can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: body evenly coloured, iridescent, varying from beige to tan in adults and bronzish in juveniles; unpaired fins brown to purple, uniformly coloured or with pale or whitish edges; iris black; claspers tripartite divided for one third of their length, not extending beyond the pelvic fins in adults; dorsal spine equal or shorter than first dorsal fin; ventral caudal lobe equal or deeper than the dorsal caudal lobe. Comparison of DNA sequences of the CO1 gene with those of related species supported C. opalescens as a distinct species [13545].

Distribution
Atlantic Ocean: North-eastern Atlantic, along the slope to the west of the British Isles and France [13545]. Source: www.gbif.org

Biology
Temperate; 48°N - 57°N, 6°W - 11°W

Size / Weight / Age
Max length : 96.8 cm TL male/unsexed; [13545]; 109.8 cm TL (female)

Habitat
Marine; demersal; depth range 900 - 1400 m [13545]

Remarks
shark-references Species-ID=11108;