Prehistoric representatives of the sea fauna include shark chimer. This individual has been caught more than once, so it does not seem to be a mythical scientist. It is terrible, the truth is that such sharks lived in the seas of another four hundred million years ago.

These creatures are sometimes called ghosts. And the name of Chimera this fish received for his appearance. The fact is that in Greek mythology there was a legend of the monster, the whole body of which was formed from parts of different animals. The mythological monster, the sewage of the table and the echidna, had a head and neck of a lion, he had a torso in the middle of a goat, and the back - snake. From the middle of the ridge, Hammers grew a goat head, and the tail ended the head of the dragon. That is how Chimera depicts the famous bronze statue from Arezzo, which belongs to the V century. All three monsters worsted the fire, destroying all the living around, and no one could approach her. Himera long brought horror on people, until he was killed by his handsome flawfather (other myths attribute this feat to the Perse), rising in the air on the core of the Pegasus. Shooting on top of Luke, the young man snapped chimeura rain arrows with lead tips. As if in the furnaces, the metal instantly melted from the fire and poured all the three spelling flames of the mouth of the chimera, speeding up the end of the demonic creation.

The chimera was very difficult to imagine - from a lion, goat and snakes are not so easy to make a single beast. Over time, the uncomfortable image of a living being disappeared, but the word remains, denoting something unpredictable, impossible. A false idea, an impracticable fantasy - such a definition of chimera gives modern dictionaries. Seeing fish with a strange appearance, the ancient Greeks decided that her body was not at all like an ordinary representative of the fish, but as if he was also composed of parts of different animals. Hence the name of this fish.

Sea chimeras are deep-sea fish, the most the most oldest inhabitants among modern cartilage fish - long-range relatives of modern sharks. Ancient fish with curl of sharp teeth, like a hacksaw blade, was considered for a long time a representative of the shark, however, a detailed study took it to another, but close to the group. This group refers to the genus called Helixopon.

The genus Helicoprion was first described in 1899 according to obviously incomplete samples, most of which were only a spiral cluster of teeth. Although some fossils also retained hints on the cartilage cloth, there was no cranial box or a post-storage skeleton. Therefore, scientists could say nothing about how this creature looked. Some were assumed, however, that it possessed a nose, like a trunk of an elephant, in which, in fact, this mysterious toothy curl was placed. Others placed a strange appendage then on the tail, then on the dorsal fins, they represented him hanging from the lower jaw.

The newest X-ray computed tomography is especially good The preserved copy found in 1950 in the American state of Idaho is still on the lower jaw. The sample, who lived 270 million years ago, contains not only 117 teeth, but the cartilage, to which they were attached. Judging by the size and form of the latter, the creature had about 4 m in length, and some Helicodes grew almost to 8 m. The location of the tissues of the lower jaw of the animal, partially hidden rock and therefore not affiliated with the naked eye, it definitely shows that Helicopol is not a shark. It is proposed to attribute this kind to chimerers - another detachment of cartilage fish.

All over the world, this fish is called the most different names that reflect its special appearance, including chimera, rabbit fish, leopard fish and elephant fish. Himer is sometimes called "ghost sharks." These fish dwell on very large depths, sometimes exceeding 2.5 km. About 400 million years ago, the general ancestors of modern sharks and chimer were divided into two detachments. Some preferred the habitat near the surface. Others, on the contrary, have chosen their habitats with great depths and evolved over time to modern chimeras. Currently, 50 species of these fish are known to science. Most of them do not rise to depths above 200 m, and only the rabbit fish and rat fish were seen at a small depth.

Chimeras grow to 1.5 m. It is noteworthy that the tail in these fish is very long, it reaches the size equal to half the length of the whole body. This type of deep-sea fish has a long nose and a terrible mouth. A feature of the appearance of these representatives of the Chimeric family can be called large wing side fins. Running them, Chimera becomes like a bird. The skin of these fish is smooth, with multicolored sings. Features of the male between eyes on the head have bone thigh (spike), having a bent shape. The colors for these fish is very diverse, but the prevailing colors are light gray and black with frequent and large white splashes over the entire surface. In the front of the body, near the spinal fin, the Himer has poisonous grows, they are very durable and sharp. Their animal uses for its own protection.

They lead a rather secretive lifestyle. That is why scientists still cannot explore these creatures in detail. Human habitat Himer makes their study very hard to access. About their habits, reproduction, methods of hunting is known very little. The collected knowledge suggests that chimeras hunt approximately just like other deep-sea fish. In total darkness, no speed is important for successful hunting, but the ability to find prey literally to the touch. Most deep-water use photophors. These "devices" emit a glow that attracts the victim right into the mouth of chimeras.

To search for mining, these creatures use a characteristic open, very sensitive side line, which is one of their distinctive features. It must be said that at the depths of more than 600 m enemies, such a rather large fish is not so much, except that there is no particularly voracious major females of Indianacants. A greater danger to young chimer represents their same kinds, cannibalism for chimer phenomenon is not rare, although most of their diet make up mollusks, iglozzy and crustaceans. Cases of eating other deep-sea fish are recorded.

The nose of the chimera, which she roets the seabed, has special adapters that help her find a delicacy hiding in Ile, algae and darkness. Himmer has a very strong jaw. They have 3 pairs of solid teeth that can compress with a huge force, grinding solid shellfish and iglojrock animals. To compensate for strong wear of the tooth plates, they have a continuously growing throughout its life. Chimera, possibly slow and clumsy fish, but it is perfectly adapted to find mollusks and other mining at the seabed.

Chimeras are found in all seas and oceans - in the cold in the waters of the northern hemisphere and in warm - southern. Some representatives of the chimeroid detachment live and hunt in the small seas; Others prefer to track prey in deep waters. Nothing is known about the life expectancy of these strange animals.

Himer is often caught by networks, but in Europe this fish is considered inedible and ejected. However, in China and South Africa it is a delicacy, their meat is prepared by the most different ways. In New Zealand, chimeras are known as the "silver pipe", and they are served to the table fried with chips, and in Australia they eat like a "white fillet". But we will not argue about tastes.

Appearance

The body of the chimer is narrowing to the rear end and ends with a long (up to half of the body length) with a spider tail. The length of adults from the front end to the tip of the tail varies from 0.6 to 1.5 meters. The characteristic appearance of chimers give large walled thoracic fins. On the side of the head and body is located open rocking side line.

Reproduction and development

Chimeras separatoids. As with other cartilage fish, they are characterized by internal fertilization. All types of egg-owned. Since most species live at large depths, data on the reproductive biology of this group is very limited.

Food

Traditionally it is believed that chimeras feed on very hard food (for example, mollusks). First of all, these views are associated with the structure of the chimer minus apparatus, which is capable of compressing objects with a force of exceeding 100 Newtons. However, few direct nutritional studies suggest that the Hammer's diet is not limited to organisms with solid cover (molluscs and iglozzy), but also includes polyhetes, crustaceans and even small dress fish. In addition, cases of cannibalism are described: some chimeras are able to eat both adult representatives of their species and eggs.

Notes

List of sources

  • EBERT D. A. (2003). The Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras of California. University of California Press, 284 PP.
  • Huber D. R., DEAN M. N., Summers A. P. (2008). Hard Prey, Soft Jaws and the Ontogeny of Feeding Mechanics in the Spotted Ratfish Hydrolgus Colliei. Interface, Vol. 5, Num. 25, p. 941-952.
  • Wilga C. D., Motta P. J., Sanford C. P. (2007). Evolution and ecology of feeding in elasmobranchs. INTEGRATIVE AND COMPAAPATIVE BIOLOGY, VOL. 47, p. 55-69

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Watch what is "Chimera (Fish)" in other dictionaries:

    - (Greek). 1) In Greek mythology: a fierce, extinguishing fire, the monster, had the head and chest lion, the goatful torso, and the ass of the dragons. 2) Fish North. Seas, in the form of a component of the transition to the shoes. 3) in the hostel: an unrealized dream, ... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

    chimera - s, g. Chimère f. , gr. Chimairai monster with a lion head, goat torso and a dragon tail. 1. Sculptural image of a fantastic monster personification of vices (in the decoration of medieval gothic temples, etc.). Bass 1. I proceeded ... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicalism Russian Language

    See Hope ... Synonym dictionary

    Chimer European CHIMAERA MONSTROSA Scientific Classification ... Wikipedia

    Beat as a fish about ice, catch fish in muddy water, it is like a fish .. Dictionary of Russian synonyms and similar expression on the meaning. under. ed. N. Abramova, M.: Russian Dictionaries, 1999. Fish Rybetz, Fish, Rybet, Fish, Fish, Fish, Ryberry, Liberty, ... ... Synonym dictionary

    Women., Greek. Fictional monster: in front of the lion's, the middle of the goat, and the ass snake. | Strange Fish of the Northern Seas, the transition to the gadas. | Fantasy, dream, absurdity, empty fiction. Chimeric, riche, peep, empty, ridiculous, invented without meaning ... Explanatory dictionary of Daly

    Chimera - Chemical Era, s (Mythol.) And Chemical Era, s (sculptural image of the monster; impracticable dream, fantasy; fish; biol.) ... Russian spelling dictionary

    Chimera - 1) in ancient Greek mythology, the monster with a fire-hazing lion flip, the tail of the dragon and the goatful body; 2) an impracticable dream, whimsical fantasy; 3) marine fish; 4) vegetable organism consisting of two genetically inhomogeneous ... ... Theoretical aspects and foundations of the environmental problem: the interpreter of words and ideomatic expressions

    European Chimera ... Wikipedia

    I fish water vertebrates with non-permanent body temperature; Breathing with gills, fines of non-diploma type, usually in the form of fins (see fins). Grade 2: Head Challenge and Actually R. Actually R. (Pisces) include 7 subclasses: ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Chimer European (lat. Chimaera Monstrosa) - Chimmer's cartilaginous fish (chimaeridae) Chimeriforms (chimaeriformes). Like sharks and rods, its axial skeleton consists of cartilage chords without segmental shorteys.

Meat of this fish has an unpleasant taste, so it does not have industrial importance. Calculates predominantly only for the sake of a very large liver, which is used in folk medicine to treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system and an angina.

She received its name in honor of the monsters of ancient Greek mythology with a goat torso, a face of a lion and a snake tail.

The monster inhabited in the territory of the current Turkey, he drove the fire from the mouth and how our native Zmey-Gorynych went delicious prisoners from the Black Sea region.

European chimer, despite his sharp sturdy jaws, man fleece is not interested and can only be dangerous for particularly stupid divers.

Distribution and behavior

This species is found in cool waters in the north-east of the Atlantic Ocean, in the south of the Adriatic and in the western part of the Mediterranean seas. In the north, the borders of the area are located at the southern coast of Iceland and Norway, and in the south of the Western shores of North Africa.

European Chimera also lives in the Azores and Great Britain. It is most often observed at depths from 100 to 500 m. Some individuals are managed in search of food to descend to depth to 1500 m.

Fish prefer to be at the bottom of the bottom with small pieces.

Being very voracious predators, they are not tired of swimming at their home plot in search of allowers. Quickly move in the thickness of the water. It is helped by major similar to the oars pectoral fins.

The diet consists of marine mollusks, iglojrock and crustaceans. At the bottom of the shed, the oral hole allows chimeras to deftly pick food directly from the bottom surface. Electrical processors are used to search for production, which in structure resemble similar receptors at the shark.

Features morphology

Labeled covers close 4 gill slots. There are two small splashes on the theme. The stomach is missing. The digestive tract of the European chimera consists of a direct intestine of the tubular shape.

Jaws are armed with solid dentals. In the upper jaw there are 2 pairs of such plates, and in the bottom one. They are distinguished by increased strength and can easily crush the shells of marine inhabitants.

To protect against predators, chimeras use a poisonous spike located on the back.

In the summer, they love to be in shallow water, and closer to winter they go to deeper water.

Reproduction

The reproduction of European Himer has been studied relatively little due to their secretive bottom lifestyle. In each ovary of females there is up to hundreds of eggs, but only the two biggest eggs are ripening and depricted.

Each such an egg is placed in a huge, reminiscent bottle of a yellow-brown horny capsule with a length of approximately 16-17 and 2-3 cm width.

At first she keeps on the body of females, and then with the help of a beam of long and tenacious threads it is attached to stones, algae or to the housings of sunken ships in the immediate vicinity of the bottom.

The female lays 2 eggs as they are matured. The development of embryos depending on the environmental conditions can last from 12 to 18 months. Falls that appeared on a length of about 11 cm are a miniature copy of their parents. Immediately after birth, they begin to hunt on their own.

Description

The body length reaches 100-120 cm, and the weight of -2.5 kg. An extended torso slightly compressed from the sides. The top and side of the body are brown, and the abdominal silver with a gray shade. On the sides are bright stains in the form of a marble pattern.

Along the middle of the body stretches the side line, branched on the head. The tail is very thin and long. The skin is devoid of scales and covered with a layer of mucus. Big breast fins are used as the main propulsion.

A large head ends with blunt digging. The males on the head between their eyes is growing mace-shaped front appendages. The first dorsal fin is short and high, and the second long and low. Before the first dorsal fin is growing poisonous spike.

Eyes with turquoise randons are in the top of the head. On the bottom of the shed is a small oral hole.

The life expectancy of the European Chimera is about 30 years old.

Deep water of mysterious oceans inhabited mysterious creatures. 400 million years ago Evolution appeared an unusual underwater inhabitant - chimer fish.

This creature is sometimes called ghost sharks. And the name of Chimera, this fish received for its appearance. The fact is that in Greek mythology there was a legend of a monstrous woman, the whole body of which was formed from parts of different animals. Seeing fish with a strange appearance, the ancient Greeks decided that her body was not at all like an ordinary representative of the fish - as if it was also composed of parts of animals. Therefore, the chimer fish received its name.

This fish belongs to the cartilage, represents a squamous squirrel, the family of chimeric.

Among the class of cartilage fish, chimeras appeared on our planet the very first. It is they who are considered long-distance relatives. Today, scientists counted about 50 species of these unusual fish on our planet.

EXTERNAL CHILD OF CHAMERA FISH




The length of the body of an adult individual reaches 1.5 meters. The skin of these fish is smooth, with multicolored sings. Features of the male between eyes on the head have bone thigh (spike), having a bent shape.

The tail in these fish is very long, it reaches the sizes equal to half the length of the whole body. A feature of the appearance of these representatives of the Chimeric family can be called large wing side fins. Running them, Chimera becomes something like a bird.


The colors for these fish is very diverse, but the prevailing colors are light gray and black with frequent and large white splashes over the entire surface. In the front of the body, near the spinal fin, the Himer has poisonous grows, they are very durable and sharp. Their animal uses for its own protection.

Where dwells "Ghost Shark"?

Representatives of chimeric fish can be found in the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean - from Norway to Iceland, from the Mediterranean to the southern coast of African mainland. In addition, these creatures live in the Barents Sea.

Behavior in nature

These fish are inhabitants of deep waters. They can be detected at a depth of over 2.5 kilometers. They lead a rather secretive lifestyle. That is why scientists still cannot explore these creatures in detail.

It is known only that the hunt for these fish lead in the dark, to the touch. To attract mining, special devices of the mouth of the oral apparatus are used - photophors. These "devices" emit a glow, and the victim itself floats into the light, right in the mouth to chimera.


What is the basis of the diet of deep-water chimer fish?

These cartilaginous fish feed, predominantly molluscs, iglozzy animals, crustaceans. They can use other fish in the same depths as the chimeras themselves. For eating shecietary and hay animals having sharp spikes on the body, chimer has sharp teeth that have a decent force and strong grip.

How do chimeres bring their offspring?

These fish are separate substances. After mating females with males, female individuals lay eggs that are placed in a special solid capsule.


The process of reproduction, just like the lifestyle of these fish, is currently poorly studied by scientists.

Natural enemies chimeras

Due to the deep-water lifestyle, chimera fish practically do not have enemies. But there is one reservation: young individuals of these fish often eat their same sorts, only older than age. So they are, these underwater predators!

Economic importance chimeras


The meat of these fish is considered inconsiderable, but the fat learned from the liver of these underwater inhabitants, people attribute the miraculous properties of healing from many diseases.

ATTENTION, only today!

.. Or the adventure of the household.

Friends, recently on the market I saw a beautiful fish: Silver with steaming stew without head and tail, just 1 fin across the entire back, clean ventricle, white meat and no scales! Not fish, but the dream of the hostess!

Confused only name - Chimera.

What is chimera

In short Chimera In ancient Greece, they called fictional monsters who combined parts of various animals - lion, goat and snakes. The ugly appearance was combined with an evil temper.

But the fish, lying in front of me, was so good that, despite the vague premonitions, I bought it.

How I prepared a chimera

At home, I quickly cleaned the chimera, cut into pieces, sat down, pecked, knocked in the flour and laid out on the pan, in hot oil.

Fish roasted, but not a golden crust, no thick fish smell appeared. Another time to roast fish - such a smell, although saints take it out. And here - time goes, and nothing happens!

I tried a thin piece - the fish is no longer raw, but it does not leave the spine, crumbs.

Nearby Mopsp Filimon spinning - a big fish lover. We ate with him in a small piece of chimeras. In the mouth became bitterly.

Our Pug loves fish)))

What kind of fish - chimer

Feeling a strange taste, I thought: "Maybe I'm wrong to cook a fish to the chimera?" I decided to look at the Internet.

The first headline struck me out. Quote:

Is chimer fish edible?

And then it was written: "Before the beginning of the 20th century, Chimera fish was considered inedible." True, the Scandinavians used her liver for the preparation of wound-healing drugs (well, it still does not say anything, their knights and flomets ate), and the helica Japanese learned how to prepare a chimera in some special way (that is, it became clear that according to traditional fish Chimera do not prepare recipes).

What does chimer fish look like

A photo of the fish was attached to the description. Indeed, the monster: a huge head, eyes are big, white, pupil green. Breast fins are so big that the wings resemble the wings, and the half of the one and a half-meter body is a thin tail. For sale on sale chimera - without head and tail ...

Here is she, chimer. Photo: blogtiburones.com

No, it is impossible to call fish ugly. She is just a terrible. Maybe therefore, there are legends about how, by gathering in a flock, predatory chimeras attack people, sodes from them.

Chimera Arctic, Figure: twinkleinglight.tumblr.com

Is chimeras attack a person

I think that these are fairy tales and not true, after all, chimera is deep-sea fish. But it is not advised to meet it, even in fried form. Bind in the mouth remained for several hours. And if the eaten piece of fish was more?

Imagine an epitaph ... "Natasha Fish, who died from chimer fish")))))))

Afterword

I did not take a picture of either a fresh nor roasted chimera, then then all this situation was stolen. And a week later I went to the market again, in the fish ranks. To sfotkat this strange, conditionally edible (or, yet not?) The creature for history.

Chimera was in place. But instead of her creepy name, it was written on the price tag: marine hare. I thought, masked. Well, what can you expect from chimera?

Asked the seller, why do you trade in bad fish. She assured that the party chimera (she is the marine hare), was wrong frozen, because she was proud. Well, you understand, check if it is, I have not become more, health is more expensive.

Even, for impressionable dog breeders, I have a hurry to assure that in the preparation of chimera, no Pug has suffered.)))

Well, can it be possible to name this long tail chimeraman?! This is a straight knot. Photo: zoosite.com.ua.

Site Administration Comments

We also became interested in the question, what kind of fish is this, chimera.

At first, looked at the search, as they are looking for the word Chimera. The results were impressed. This is not only the nests chimer Max Fray ... We did not find claws (claws from fish we did not find), and a house with chimers (what kind of horror), and Garpia, Gargoyle (also scary), by whining class (these are some optimists searched), wave , Tantalia Flour and even - Homeric laughter.

They fell into an Italian forum, where one of the participants was surprised to tell, as I found this wonderful fish on the counter, asked from friends, as such a thing could be that this horror fell into the market.

We quote:

I agree that this shame is to see the chimera (sea rabbit) among fishing fish ...Probably caught her by chance, it was a pity to quit, so Chimera tried to sell. But I do not know anyone who would have courage to eat a chimera!

Thank you very much for comments on the sea rabbit (chimera). Now it is necessary to send it to the refrigerator, tomorrow I will bring to the department of marine biology, where we meet, and, I think it will be preserved in formalin.
Hello everybody.

one senir asked:

One is not clear for me ...

You are outraged because you disgust to see the chimera on sale,because: 1) Is a rare species that can not be seized or 2) Sustained taste?