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Today on Animal Fact Files we’re discussing ghost sharks. Ghost sharks are also known as chimaeras. These animals are not technically sharks though sharks are their closest living relatives. Like sharks, these animals have no bones. Instead, cartilage makes up their skeletons. They have a few different common names based on how they look: plough nosed ghost sharks are known as “elephant fish”, short nosed ghost sharks are known as “ratfish”, and long nosed ghost sharks are… well they’re just long nosed ghost sharks, or long nosed chimaeras. We gotta say, though, probably our favorite common name for these fascinating creatures of the deep is “rabbitfish”. This name is appropriate because they have big eyes and grinding plates for teeth which somewhat match the rabbit’s big chompers. Some people say they’re creepy, like ghosts, hence the name ghost shark, but we think they’re kind of cute, what do you all think?

Those spots on their faces are sensory organs that help them find food. Chimaeras find food through scent or electroreception. They don’t really need to depend on vision because most live more than 656 feet (200m) below the ocean’s surface where there is very little light from the surface or no light at all. It should be noted, however, that some species do live in more shallow water. These are mostly bottom dwelling fish, and they go way down to the bottom of the ocean, more than 1.6 miles (2,600m) below the waves!

Ghost sharks eat clams, muscles, crabs, and soft-bodied animals like octopuses. It’s believed these fish can live to be upwards of 30 years old or even longer, though it’s tough to study them because they live so deep in the ocean. Like sharks, male chimaeras have claspers which they use to hold a female while they mate. Fertilized eggs then develop inside female ghost sharks and are laid up to two at a time multiple times per year. They may take anywhere from six to twelve months to hatch, though more research could help shed some light on this process, literally!

There are currently around 50 living chimaera species, though more information could reveal more. They are found throughout all the world’s ocean except towards the Antarctic. They may live along soft bottom habitats or places that are rocky. Some have broad ranges that span huge stretches of the ocean while others, like the Galapagos ghost shark are believed to have much more limited homes.

In size, chimaeras can be up to 5 feet (1.5m) in length though that’s including the tail which can get quite long in some species! They don’t have scales but instead are covered in smooth skin. They also have large flapping pectoral fins and a prominent dorsal fin. This dorsal fin comes with a venomous spine that this fish will use to stab predators. Predators to chimaeras include sharks, and other deep sea fish including other chimaeras, however, their spine, which in some species can cause paralysis and hallucinations in humans, will break off in the predators and regrow later so the ghost shark can defend itself again!

Thank you to our Patrons SpikeSpiegel93, Dad, and everyone else for their support of this channel! Thank you to Janafal and Mr. Animalover for today’s request! For more facts on ghost sharks, or chimaera, check out the links below. Give a thumbs up if you learned something new today, and thank you for watching Animal Fact Files!