Spotted ratfish

Hydrolagus colliei

FAMILY

Chimaeridae

TAXONOMY

Hydrolagus colliei Lay and Bennett, 1839, Monterey, California.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

None known.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Head contains a bluntly pointed snout. Body color is a reddish to dark brown with silvery-blue and gold highlights, as well as numerous small white spots on the head and along sides and back of the trunk. Ventrally the color is an even pale cream or gray.

DISTRIBUTION

Southeastern Alaska to Baja, California, and the northern Gulf of California. It has been recorded at depths ranging from the surface to 2,995 ft (912.9 m).

HABITAT

Usually occurs near muddy, sandy, or rocky bottoms.

BEHAVIOR

Known to migrate from deeper to shallower waters. It tends to aggregate into groups based on age and sex.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Feeds on benthic invertebrates and other fishes.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Oviparous, with eggs fertilized within the female reproductive tract. Two egg capsules, each containing a single embryo, are laid every 7–10 days for a period of months. Development appears to take 6–12 months.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

At one time this species was fished locally for the oil extracted from the liver. There is no known commercial value, and it is considered a nuisance fish by local fishermen.