New records of chimaeroid fishes from Greenland waters (North Atlantic), with description of juvenile Chimaera monstrosa and Hydrolagus affinis (Holocephali, Chimaeridae)

• Main Authors: Møller, P.R., Kullberg, T., Jørgensen, Ole A
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2004
• Subjects: Individ- og populationsinteraktioner; Greenland; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://orbit.dtu.dk/en/publications/64119fab-0d02-4e04-9980-d2d7994297b0

Until about 15 years ago, the holotype of Harriotta haeckeli Karrer, 1972 was the only chimaeroid fish recorded from Greenland waters. Between 1988 and 2002, several specimens of four additional chimaeroid species were caught in deep-sea trawl surveys (400-1500 m) for Greenland halibut: 65 specimens of Hydrolagus affinis (Capello, 1868), 1 specimen of H. pallidus Hardy & Stehmann, 1990, 1 specimen of Chimaera monstrosa Linnaeus, 1758 and 2 specimens of Rhinochimaera atlantica Holt & Byrne, 1909. The new records extend the distribution ranges considerably to the north and/or west. All specimens are adults except for a juvenile C. monstrosa (80 mm body length-BL) and a juvenile H. affinis (140 mm BL). Juveniles of chimaeroid fishes are very rarely caught, so they are here described with comments on dermal denticles, allometric growth and colouration