Info
Special thank for the fotos to Erling Svensen, Norway and Anders Salsjö, Sweden.
Distribution:
Eastern Atlantic: northern Norway and Iceland, Skagerrak and Kattegat south to Morocco including western Mediterranean (some isolated records from eastern part), Azores and Madeira Islands.
Biology:
Bathydemersal to benthopelagic generally between 300 and 500 m depth. Found in the upper continental slope. Usually found in deeper waters in southern latitudes, while making a summer inshore migration up to 40-100 m in the northern areas. Sluggish, usually occurring in small groups.
Feeds mainly on bottom-living invertebrates. The single dorsal spine is sharp and pointed, and although only mildly venomous can inflict a painful wound. Oviparous.
Males have a clasper on the forehead that is probably used to hold on to the female during copulation. Egg capsules are about 17 cm long; young look alike adults and hatch when 10 cm long.
Common by-catch when trawling for shrimps in the North Sea or Skaggerak.
Synonyms:
Chimaera arctica Gistel, 1848
Chimaera argentea Ascanius, 1772
Chimaera borealis Shaw, 1804
Chimaera cristata Faber, 1829
Chimaera dubia Osório, 1909
Chimaera mediterranea Risso, 1826