Spotted Ratfish

Spotted Ratfish

Spotted ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei)

Common Name: Spotted Ratfish, White-spotted Ratfish

Scientific Name: Hydrolagus colliei

Distribution: It is native to Northeastern Pacific Ocean and found at a depth of 3000ft.

Description:
The spotted Ratfish is a species of Chimaera. It is related to sharks but harmless.The female spotted ratfish measures 97cm, much bigger than male. It has a rabbit-like face with a broad, flat, duckbill shaped snout containing incisor shaped teeth. It also has large eyes and a prominent venomous spine at the leading edge of  dorsal fin. Triangular pectoral fins are well developed and have a transparent appearance. Fins are grey or dark in colour. The fish has smooth scales on a  silvery bronze-coloured body adorned with golden and sometimes blue or green spots. The tail is long and looks like a rat. Overall, it has a shape like an airplane.

Habit:
Diet consists of a wide range of bottom dwelling invertebrates and fishes. Ratfish is known to be cannibalistic, feeding on both free-swimming individuals and on its own eggcases. Like sharks, the spotted ratfish are oviparous.

Importance:
It has no economic importance as such. It is considered to be one of the oldest and most enigmatic fishes alive today.