Chimera sea cat. Order: Chimaeriformes = Chimera-like. Reproduction of the long-nosed chimera
Deep waters mysterious oceans inhabit mysterious creatures. 400 million years ago, an unusual underwater inhabitant appeared - the chimera fish.
This creature is sometimes called a ghost shark. This fish received the name chimera because of its appearance. The point is that in Greek mythology There was a legend about a monstrous woman whose entire body was formed from parts of various animals. Seeing a fish with a strange appearance, the ancient Greeks decided that its body was not at all like an ordinary fish - but as if it was also made up of animal parts. That is why the chimera fish got its name.
This fish belongs to the cartilaginous fish, represents the order Chimera, family Chimaera.
Among the class cartilaginous fish Chimeras were the very first to appear on our planet. They are the ones who count distant relatives. Today, scientists have counted about 50 species of these unusual fish on our planet.
Appearance of chimera fish
Body length adult reaches 1.5 meters. The skin of these fish is smooth, with multi-colored tints. In males, between the eyes on the head there is a bone growth (spike) that has a curved shape.
The tail of these fish is very long, it reaches the size equal to half the length of the whole body. A distinctive feature of the appearance of these representatives of the chimaera family can be called large wing-shaped lateral fins. By straightening them, the chimera becomes somewhat similar to a bird.
The colors of these fish are very diverse, but the predominant colors are light gray and black with frequent and large white patches throughout the surface. In the front part of the body, near the dorsal fin, chimeras have poisonous outgrowths; they are very strong and sharp. The animal uses them for its own protection.
Where does the “ghost shark” live?
Representatives of chimera fish can be found in the eastern part Atlantic Ocean– from Norway to Iceland, from Mediterranean Sea to south coast African continent. In addition, these creatures live in the Barents Sea.
Behavior in nature
These fish are inhabitants of deep waters. They can be found at depths of over 2.5 kilometers. They lead a rather secretive lifestyle. That is why scientists still cannot study these creatures in detail.
It is only known that these fish hunt in the dark, by touch. To attract prey, they use special devices of the oral apparatus - photophores. These “devices” emit a glow, and the victim itself floats towards the light, right into the mouth of the chimera.
What constitutes the basis of the diet of deep-sea chimera fish?
These cartilaginous fish feed mainly on mollusks, echinoderms, and crustaceans. They can eat other fish that live at the same depths as the chimeras themselves. To eat armored and echinoderm animals that have sharp spines on their bodies, the chimera has sharp teeth, which have decent strength and a strong grip.
How do chimeras breed their offspring?
These fish are dioecious creatures. After females mate with males, females lay eggs, which are placed in a special hard capsule.
The reproduction process, just like the lifestyle of these fish, is currently poorly studied by scientists.
Natural enemies of chimeras
Due to their deep-sea lifestyle, chimera fish have virtually no enemies. But there is one caveat: young individuals of these fish are often eaten by their own relatives, only older in age. That's what they are, these underwater predators!
Economic importance of chimeras
The meat of these fish is considered inedible, but the fat extracted from the liver of these underwater inhabitants, people attribute miraculous healing properties to many diseases.
Attention, TODAY only!A huge number of amazing creatures live in the air and on land and in water, many of which we have not only not seen, but have not even heard about. Here, for example, is a hare. No, not an ordinary hare, but a water hare.
In fact, it is, and she was nicknamed the hare because her head resembles the head of a hare or rabbit. And the jaws of this fish have several pairs of sharp incisors.
Sometimes this fish is called the sea rat because most of She spends her life at the very bottom and feeds there.
No less interesting is the scientific name of this fish, namely, chimera. European chimera - Chimaera monstrosa – cartilaginous big fish from the order Chimera. The sea hare can reach a length of one and a half to two meters.
Females are slightly smaller than males. The body is oval, flattened on the sides, the scales covering it are so small that they are almost invisible, therefore it seems that the skin of sea hares is smooth and shimmers in almost all the colors of the rainbow. Chimeras are able to change their color.
The head of these fish is triangular in shape, extended forward. The mouth is small.
Males have a growth bent in front between the eyes. So he is also sea unicorn you can call it.
The chimera does not have a bubble, so it has to be in motion all the time so as not to fall to the bottom.
The fins of these fish have rays with poisonous glands; their pricking causes severe pain.
The sea hare lives at great depths and stays almost at the very bottom, most often in algae thickets, among coral reefs, where schools of fry live.
This fish feeds on algae, which it can gnaw for hours, like a hare on grass, shells, small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.
If there is little food in one place, then sea hare travels, moving to another place in search of something edible.
They are low in calories, so the sea hare needs a large amount of them to be full. Although their powerful jaws easily bite through hard food.
The sea hare does not spawn, but lays eggs, which are eaten by people.
There are sea hares in the west Pacific Ocean, in the eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and Barents Sea.
Despite the fact that hare eggs, for example, are considered a delicacy in Scandinavia, chimeras are not considered commercial fish. Until the 20th century, their meat was considered inedible. But the fat from their liver was used in medicinal purposes and as a lubricant.
But in the 20th century, scientists discovered that the white, juicy meat of hare fish is a valuable nutritious product. It contains protein that is completely digestible by the human body, vitamins such as A, D. E, large number fatty acids, macro and microelements.
Hare fish dishes are served in prestigious restaurants.
They are not only tasty, but also low in calories. 100 g of fish fillet contains 100-110 kcal.
It has been scientifically proven that eating hare fish meat lowers cholesterol levels in the blood and cleanses blood vessels, making them more elastic.
True, you need to know how to cut a sea hare so that poisonous fins do not get into your food.
In Korea, Thailand and the Philippines, sea hares are sold in markets.
For exotic lovers, experts advise buying hare fish carcass, which is sold frozen in some of our most specialized stores such as “Fish Empire”.
An indicator of the quality of the product is the fish’s transparent, shiny eyes and closed red gills.
The same stores also sell hare fish eggs.
Gourmets say that the taste of the cooked chimera is beyond praise.
This fish has no internal bones; instead of bones, the breast contains cartilage.
Hare fish is prepared in almost the same way as any other fish.
Fried Chimera
You will need:
Fish;
- flour;
- salt;
- vegetable oil.
Cooking method:
Cut the fish into pieces, rinse, dry with a paper towel, add salt, roll in flour and fry until cooked on both sides. vegetable oil in a frying pan.
Baked chimera with cheese
You will need:
500-600 g fish;
- 80-100 g of cheese;
- 2 eggs;
- salt to taste;
- breadcrumbs;
- vegetable oil.
Cooking method:
Grate the cheese and mix with the same amount of breadcrumbs.
Cut the fish into thin slices, add salt, dip in a well-beaten egg, roll in a mixture of breadcrumbs and cheese, place on a baking sheet well greased with oil and bake in the oven until done.
Sea hare with garnish
You will need:
150-200 g hare fish;
- 4 tomatoes;
- 2 onions;
- 5 cloves of garlic;
- 15 g parsley;
- vegetable oil;
- salt, pepper to taste.
Cooking method:
Fry the fish on both sides in vegetable oil.
In another frying pan, fry the onion cut into rings, add the tomatoes cut into slices, simmer under the lid over low heat for 5 minutes.
Add crushed garlic, chopped parsley, salt, pepper and simmer for another 10 minutes. Be careful not to burn.
Prepare boiled rice or mashed potatoes as a side dish. Place the side dish on a plate, then the fish and stewed vegetables on top.
Chimera baked in foil
You will need:
400 g fish fillet;
- 1 carrot;
- 1-2 onions;
- vegetable oil;
- salt, pepper to taste.
Cooking method:
Rub the prepared fish with a mixture of salt, pepper and butter, place on foil, cover with onion rings and sprinkle with grated carrots, carefully wrap and bake in the oven until cooked.
Hare fish in red wine
You will need:
500 g fillet;
- 1 glass of red table wine;
- 2 onions;
- 1-2 parsley roots;
- 500 g potatoes;
- 1 tbsp. spoon of flour;
- 2 tbsp. spoons of vegetable oil;
- 2 pcs. allspice peas;
- 3-4 cloves;
- 1-2 bay leaves;
- salt, pepper to taste.
Cooking method:
Place chopped onion and parsley root in a deep frying pan. bay leaf, allspice, cloves, Top with fish cut into pieces, add salt, pour wine and 1 glass of water, cover and simmer over low heat until tender.
The broth can be drained and served separately as a sauce. Garnish: boiled potatoes.
Chimera in orange sauce
You will need:
500 g fish;
- juice and zest of 1 orange;
- 2 tbsp. spoons of lemon juice;
- 2 yolks;
- 150 g butter;
- salt, pepper to taste.
Cooking method:
Rinse the fillet, dry it, sprinkle with lemon juice and leave for 15 minutes.
Squeeze the juice out of the orange, grate the zest on a fine grater, and mix everything. Mix the yolks with 3 tbsp. spoons of water and beat with melted butter until creamy. Add orange juice.
Place the fillet in a frying pan, greased with oil, add salt, pour in the prepared sauce, cover with a lid and simmer until the fish is ready over low heat.
How different and unusual fish exist in nature, and what names have not been invented for them! For example, the chimera fish: the very name of this animal evokes not the most pleasant associations. And if you look at this inhabitant depths of the sea, then opinions may be divided. Some see a very cute and cute fish that looks like a soaring bird, while others see a monster. So who is she really, this mysterious sea dweller, which is also called another strange name- sea hare fish.
Very close relatives of the chimera are and: they are all cartilaginous fish and have a backbone made of cartilaginous tissue. Look at the photo of the chimera fish and try to find common features with sharks!
All the most interesting things about chimeras
When the name chimera is mentioned, it does not mean that there is only one single species. The genus Chimaera (lat. Chimaera) unites 6 species, of which the most famous is the European chimera (lat. Chimaera monstrosa) from the eastern Atlantic. There is a Cuban chimera (Chimaera cubana), which was initially mistaken for a European one, but was later identified as an independent species. It lives off the coast of Cuba at a depth of 400-500 meters. Other species of the genus Chimera are known from the waters eastern regions Pacific Ocean (Philippine Islands, Yellow Sea and Japanese Islands).
Place of chimeras in the fish system
The genus Chimera, of which the European chimera is a representative, is included in the family Chimaeridae, in which there is another genus with species that differ from the genus Chimera in the shape of the caudal fin.
All fish of the Chimaera family have a blunt snout. This is an important difference from other families of the Chimaeriformes order, including the family. Nosed chimeras with a very elongated snout and a pointed one at the end. And the third family is the proboscis-snouted chimeras (Callorhynchaceae). They are distinguished by the elongated and bent down and back of the front end of the snout.
Below, in the photo, chimera fish are depicted in drawings, and you can see the differences in the structure of the snout in representatives of each family, which were mentioned above.
Representatives of the order Chimera: 1 - fam. Chimaeras; 2 - sem. Proboscis snouts (Callorhynchaceae) and fam. Nosed chimeras. As already mentioned at the beginning of the article, the chimera fish is cartilaginous, and accordingly, belongs to the class “Cartilaginous fish,” which has two subclasses. Having a lot in common in the internal and external structure with elasmobranchs (sharks and rays), chimeras differ from them in that their upper jaw is completely fused with the skull. Therefore, they are classified into the subclass Whole-headed or Joint-skulled.
Appearance of chimaeras
All chimaeras have a characteristic body shape: valval, slightly compressed laterally and very thin towards the tail. This is clearly visible in the photo of the sea hare fish (European chimera).
Other Features appearance representatives of chimaeras:
- There are two fins on the back, the first is tall and short, having a powerful spike in front, which together with it, if necessary, fits into a special groove in the back. The second is long and can stretch all the way to the base of the caudal fin and does not fold.
- The caudal fin is often shaped like a long cord.
- The pectoral fins are very well developed and each of them is shaped like a fan.
- The pelvic fins are smaller than the pectoral fins and are located next to the anus, being pushed back.
- At the base, all paired fins are equipped with fleshy blades, thin and flexible.
- The lower mouth (lower) of chimeras has a characteristic three-lobed upper lip.
- The gill openings located on the sides of the head are covered by a fold of skin supported by finger-like cartilages.
- Naked body, deprived placoid scales, covered with a lot of mucus.
Spine in the first dorsal fin of a European chimera. European chimeras - beauties or beasts?
The European chimera has the Latin name Chimaera monstrosa, which evokes associations with some kind of monster. This fish has many names, one of the names that the chimera fish bears is the hare. This may be due to the large, slightly elongated pectoral fins and huge eyes. It is also called sea rabbit fish, apparently for the same reasons.
And among the Norwegians, the chimera is a royal fish. It is called so because of the thin bony growth curved backwards, which is located between the eyes of males.
A stylized image of a male chimera with a bony growth between its eyes. The body length of the European chimera can be up to one or one and a half meters, and its tail is very long and thin, so another name has been assigned to it - the sea rat.
What color is the chimera?
Rudimentary spines are sometimes found on the bare skin of the European chimera. However, the skin looks smooth and soft and has a characteristic color:
- the back is in dark brown and golden shades in combination with brown and whitish, a dark brown stripe stretches along the upper part of the back;
- the ventral side of the body is light;
- a blackish-brown edging is noticeable on the back of the long dorsal fin, as well as on the caudal and anal fins.
Completes the color image of the chimera green the pupil against the background of the white iris of her huge eyes.
European chimera, photo by Roman Fedortsov, Murmansk, @rfedortsov_official_account Distribution, lifestyle and movement
The European chimera fish is not found in tropical waters. Its range is the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean:
- IN northern waters– from the Strait of Gibraltar ( coastal waters Morocco) to the island of Iceland and the Scandinavian Peninsula with entry into the Barents Sea.
- Southern waters - near the coast of southern Africa (this information requires confirmation).
The sea hare fish spends most of its life at the bottom, so ichthyologists classify it as a bathydimersal (bottom deep-sea) fish. After all, the depth at which it can be found is from 40 to 1400 meters. But most often this species lives at relatively shallow depths: two hundred to five hundred meters (in the northernmost part of its range) and three hundred and fifty to seven hundred meters (in the waters off the coast of Morocco). By winter it comes to coastal waters, where off the coast of Norway (where the depth is from 90 to 180 meters) a number of individuals can be caught by trawls.
These fish are quite gentle and do not resist at all when caught. Once removed from the water, they die very quickly. Placed in an aquarium, they do not survive well.
Method of transportation
The chimera or sea rabbit fish is not a fast and high-speed swimmer, and it does not need it. See how gracefully it moves with the eel-like curve of its rear body and tail and the undulating wing-like movements of its large pectoral fins. The pelvic fins are also involved in ensuring the swimming of the fish; they are located horizontally and act as movement stabilizers.
Being at the bottom, chimeras can “stand” on the ground, resting on almost all of their fins: the pectoral and pelvic fins perform the function of four limbs, and the tail serves as additional support.
Nutrition issue
This part of the article is devoted to two questions:
- what does sea rabbit fish eat?
- Is it possible to eat chimera fish, that is, sea rabbit?
The diet of chimeras consists mainly of benthic invertebrates. Among them are mollusks, crustaceans (mainly crabs), echinoderms ( sea urchins, brittle stars). Small fish only sometimes they were found in their stomachs. When examining the contents digestive tract chimeras, it was discovered that they do not swallow food whole, but bite off small pieces of prey or crush it with strong dental plates.
Do people eat chimeras?
So, is it possible to eat chimera fish? There is no definitive answer to this question. Fishing for chimaeras is carried out off the Pacific coast of the United States; they are caught in Chile and Argentina, as well as in the waters of New Zealand and China. The volume of production is especially large in New Zealand, where representatives of the family Callorhynchidae (proboscis-snouted chimeras) are caught.
Only fresh callorhynchus meat, which has excellent taste qualities. However, if it sits for even a little bit, it begins to exude bad smell ammonia. For housewives, the chimera cartilaginous fish, which has no scales or hard bones, is, of course, very convenient to prepare.
Fat is extracted from the liver of chimeras, which has long been known as an excellent wound healing agent.
The current trend towards increasing the volume of production of the European chimera using deep-sea trawling for the purpose of production medicines from the liver oil of this fish led to the inclusion of this species in the IUCN Red List ( International Union nature conservation). The chimera hare fish has protective status, as a species close to vulnerable.
Is it possible to eat Chimera fish?
.. or Adventures of a Housewife.
Friends, recently at the market I saw beautiful fish: silvery carcass with spots without head and tail, only 1 fin across the entire back, clean stomach, white meat and no scales! Not a fish, but a housewife's dream!
The only thing that confused me was the name - Chimera.
What is a chimera
In a word Chimera V ancient Greece They called fictional monsters that combined parts of various animals - a lion, a goat and a snake. The ugly appearance was combined with an evil disposition.
But the fish lying in front of me was so good that, despite vague forebodings, I bought it.
How I prepared the chimera
At home, I quickly cleaned the chimera, cut it into pieces, salted and peppered it, rolled it in flour and put it in a frying pan in hot oil.
The fish was fried, but no golden crust or thick fishy smell appeared. Another time you fry fish, the smell is enough to take away the saints. And here - time goes by, and nothing happens!
I tried a thin piece - the fish is no longer raw, but it does not come off the spine, it crumbles.
The pug Filimon, a big fish lover, was hanging around nearby. We ate a small piece of the chimera with him. My mouth felt bitter.
Our pug loves fish)))
What kind of fish is a chimera?
Feeling a strange taste, I thought: “Maybe I’m cooking chimera fish incorrectly?” I decided to look on the Internet.
The very first headline blew me away. I quote:
Is chimera fish edible?
And then it was written: “Until the beginning of the 20th century, the Chimera fish was considered inedible.” True, the Scandinavians used its liver to prepare wound-healing medicines (well, this still doesn’t say anything, their knights and fly agarics ate them), and the cunning Japanese learned to prepare the chimera in some special way (that is, it became clear that according to traditional fish recipes you can't cook a chimera).
What does a chimera fish look like?
A photo of the fish was attached to the description. Indeed, a monster: a huge head, large, white eyes, green pupil. The pectoral fins are so large that they resemble wings, and half of the one and a half meter body is a thin tail. It's not for nothing that a chimera is on sale - without a head and tail...
That's what she is, a chimera. Photo: blogtiburones.com
No, the fish cannot be called ugly. She's just scary. Maybe that’s why there are legends about how, having gathered in a flock, predatory chimeras attack people, gnawing off pieces of them.
Arctic chimera, drawing: twinkleinglight.tumblr.com
Do chimeras really attack humans?
I think that these are fairy tales and not true, after all, a chimera - deep sea fish. But I don’t recommend dating her, even fried. The bitterness in my mouth remained for several hours. What if the piece of fish eaten was larger?
Imagine the epitaph... “Natasha Rybka, who died from the Chimera fish”)))))))
Afterword
I didn’t take a photo of either the fresh or the fried chimera, I was so stunned by the whole situation at the time. And a week later I went to the market again, to the fish rows. To take a picture of this strange, conditionally edible (or, still not?) creature for history.
The chimera was in place. But instead of her creepy name On the price tag it was written: sea hare. I thought it was disguised. Well, what can you expect from a chimera?
I asked the seller why you sell inedible fish. She assured that that batch of chimera (aka sea hare) was frozen incorrectly, which is why it tasted bitter. Well, you know, I didn’t bother checking to see if this was true, health is more valuable.
Also, for impressionable dog breeders, I hasten to assure that not a single pug was harmed during the preparation of the chimera.)))
Well, can you call this one long tail chimera-fin?! This is just some kind of whip. Photo: zoosite.com.ua
Chimera fish
The deep waters of the mysterious oceans are inhabited by mysterious creatures. 400 million years ago, an unusual underwater inhabitant appeared - the chimera fish.
This creature is sometimes called a ghost shark. This fish received the name chimera because of its appearance. The fact is that in Greek mythology there was a legend about a monstrous woman, whose entire body was formed from parts of various animals. Seeing a fish with a strange appearance, the ancient Greeks decided that its body was not at all like an ordinary fish - but as if it was also made up of animal parts. That is why the chimera fish got its name.
Chimera deep sea fish
This fish belongs to the cartilaginous fish, represents the order Chimera, family Chimaera.
Among the class of cartilaginous fish, chimeras were the very first to appear on our planet. They are considered distant relatives of sharks. Today, scientists have counted about 50 species of these unusual fish on our planet.
Appearance of chimera fish
The body length of an adult reaches 1.5 meters. The skin of these fish is smooth, with multi-colored tints. In males, between the eyes on the head there is a bone growth (spike) that has a curved shape.
The tail of these fish is very long, reaching a size equal to half the length of the entire body. A distinctive feature of the appearance of these representatives of the chimaera family can be called large wing-shaped lateral fins. By straightening them, the chimera becomes somewhat similar to a bird.