On a mission. 🐟 Meet the spotted ratfish, Hydrolagus colliei. This species is part of a group of fishes known as chimaeras. Their skeletons are composed of cartilage, not bone, a characteristic that groups them with sharks and rays. But unlike sharks, with their conveyor belt rows of teeth, chimaeras have non-replaceable tooth plates composed of dense minerals and an upper jaw that is fused to their skulls. They are thought to be the missing link between cartilaginous fishes (sharks) and bony f

31K views · 1K reactions | Meet the spotted ratfish, Hydrolagus...

Ghost shark, spotted ratfish, rabbit fish – these are all names for what are formally known as chimaeras, mysterious denizens of the deep. With NSF support, a team led by the University of Florida is endeavoring to unlock the secrets of these elusive marine creatures. Researchers from UF and the Seattle Aquarium embarked on an expedition this summer, sending submersibles deep into Pacific Northwest waters. The goal? To search for the nesting grounds where ghost sharks lay their eggs. Ghost shark