These strange, ethereal creatures are typically found at depths of more than 1500 feet, so we know very little about them. The chimaera (not to be confused with the chimera, a mythological Greek lion/goat/snake hybrid) is also known as a ghost shark or rat fish. Their populations have drastically declined because of habitat loss, hunting for their fins and use in traditional medicines. You’d be hard-pressed to find one in the wild, as all sawfish species are listed as endangered or critically endangered. They are similar in body shape to sharks but are actually a type of ray, and they can grow to almost 25 feet in length. Sawfish are perhaps one of the easiest fishes to identify-they have a long, flat nose with teeth on each side, just like a saw! This distinctive nose is called a rostrum, and is used to slice their prey and scavenge in the sand. You may have seen evidence of skates if you’ve ever walked the beach and found a “mermaid’s purse”-these “plastic-y” egg cases hold baby skates (some sharks make similar egg cases). They’re also often found in cooler, deeper waters, in contrast with the preferred shallow, tropical habitat of stingrays. Skates have a shorter, thicker tail and do not have a stinger. Skates are technically a type of ray, and are often confused with stingrays because of their similar body shape. Therefore, it’s recommended that people do the “stingray shuffle” in areas where there might be stingrays (which just involves shuffling your feel along the sandy bottom to avoid stepping on stingrays). Although stingray stings are relatively rare, they can happen when unsuspecting people wade into shallow waters where stingrays are hiding. Some species of ray have sharp, venomous spines that they use to defend themselves, but others, like manta rays, lack stingers. People sometimes use “rays” and “stingrays” interchangeably, but that’s not quite accurate-all stingrays are rays, but not all rays are stingrays. They use these fins to both swim and help bury themselves in the sandy bottom where they wait for prey. They are recognizable by their flat, kite-like bodies and large “wings,” which are modified pectoral fins. Rays are the largest group of cartilaginous fish species, with more than 600 species known to science. For example, the whale shark (the largest chondrichthyan) can grow up to 60 feet long! There are more than 1,000 known species of chondrichthyans and the class can trace its evolutionary roots back 400 million years-making some species “ living fossils.” They also have placoid scales, or tough, tooth-like scales that cover their bodies, giving the animals a rough, “sandpaper-y” feel.Įnough with the similarities, though-read on to see what makes these shark relatives unique! Rays i While most vertebrates have a skeleton made of bone, chondrichthyans’ skeletons are made of pliable cartilage, which is still sturdy enough to allow them to grow to large sizes. There are a few distinct qualities that set class Chondrichthyes apart. Today, I’m here to shed some light on the lesser-known members of the shark’s family tree. Sharks are one of the most iconic animals in the sea-how many other animals can you identify simply by their fins? Sharks may get a lot of time in the spotlight, but these top predators are just one part of a diverse group of cartilaginous fishes in class Chondrichthyes.
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