Spotted Ratfish
Hydrolagus colliei
- Group: Other
- Typical depth: 0–913 m
- Max size: 1 m
- For divers: dangerous
- IUCN status: LC
Not a true fish but a chimaera, a relative of sharks and rays, the spotted ratfish swims with slow beats of its wing like fins close to the bottom. It carries a venomous spine in front of the dorsal fin that can deliver a painful wound, lives from close inshore down past nine hundred metres, and feeds on mollusks, crustaceans, worms and fish.
Taxonomy: Animalia › Chordata › Holocephali › Chimaeriformes › Chimaeridae › Hydrolagus
Species data via the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), AphiaID 271406.
FAQ
- How deep does the Spotted Ratfish live?
- The Spotted Ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei) is typically found at 0–913 m.
- Is the Spotted Ratfish dangerous to divers?
- The Spotted Ratfish can be dangerous; divers should keep their distance.
- How big does the Spotted Ratfish get?
- The Spotted Ratfish grows to about 1 m.