Striped Rabbitfish

Diagnosis: Differs from its congeners in having an irregular brown coloration with reticulations and spots over the body; ventral surface whitish, including pectoral bases; proximal margin of the second dorsal fin whitish; tooth plates striped and bicolor, yellowish and gray; length of dorsal fin spine equal to or slightly greater than head length; pectoral fin notably long, its tip extending beyond posterior margin of pectoral fin base; upper margin of second dorsal fin notably concave at middle region of second dorsal fin base; minimum height of second dorsal fin less than half of maximum height (located at points anterior and posterior to middle region of fin); eye length slightly smaller than preorbital length (Ref. 52554).

Female maximum length given as precaudal length (PCL). Inhabits deep-reefs on the continental slope, usually deeper than 400 meters; with gorgonians, hard corals, tube sponges, crinoids, and ophiuroids. It also shares this habitat with other sharks Heptranchias perlo, Scyliorhinus haeckelii, Galeus mincaronei, Schroederichthys saurisqualus, Squalus sp., and the skate Gurgesiella dorsalifera (Ref. 52554).

fisheries: of no interest

Hydrolagus matallanasi, the striped rabbitfish, is a species of very rare, deep-water chimaera that lives in the ocean at depths to 600 m. It was discovered in 2001 by a team of Brazilian scientists.

These 40-cm-long fishes have an unusual appearance; they have wing-like pectoral fins, a pointed dorsal fin, and a long, whip-like tail. The fish can see in practically total darkness and sense electromagnetic radiation (outside of the visible spectrum) emitted by other marine creatures due to exposed nerves on the sides of its body.

The fish is named after Spanish scientist Jesus Matallanas.