Family Chimaeridae - chimaeras

These unusual relatives of the sharks have the gill covered by a fold of skin, a sharp dorsal fin spine, and a long tapering tail. They are benthic fishes occuring worldwide except the polar regions.

Spotted ratfish- Hydrolagus colliei

Remarks: Not common in Humboldt Bay. Females spawn year round and produce two eggs that incubate about a year.

Identification: Large head tapering back to a pointed tail. Large venemous spine in front of the dorsal fin. Skin is smooth and scaleless. Usually brown with white spots and green eyes. Reaches almost one meter in length.

Range: Gulf of California and central Baja California north to S.E. Alaska, shallow water to depths approaching 400 m.