Chimaera monstrosa

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	CHONDRICHTHYES	CHIMAERIFORMES	CHIMAERIDAE

Scientific Name:

Chimaera monstrosa

Species Authority:

Linnaeus,1758

Common Name/s:

English	–	Rabbitfish
French	–	Chimère Commun
Spanish	–	Gato, Quimera

Taxonomic Notes:

Chimaera monstrosa is a long established and well-recognized species. Reports of this species from other parts of the world (e.g., South Africa) are misidentifications. A long history of study indicates this species is restricted to the northeast Atlantic, northern part of the Eastern Central Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, and the occurrence of populations of C. monstrosa outside this range is highly unlikely.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Near Threatened ver 3.1
Year Published:	2007
Assessor/s:	Dagit,D.D., Hareide, N. & Clò, S.
Reviewer/s:	Kyne, P.M., Fowler, S.L., Compagno, L.J.V., Soldo, A. & Valenti, S.V. (Shark Red List Authority)
Justification: This species is widespread throughout the Northeast Atlantic and capture records seem to indicate C. monstrosa is fairly abundant throughout its range. Among chimaeroid fishes this is one of the better known and most studied species, however, data on population structure, biology and ecology is still limited. Appears to prefer upper continental slope habitats at depths of 300 to 500 m with a reported maximum depth of 1,663 m and summer inshore migrations to 40 to 100 m have been observed in some areas. Oviparous with apparent spawning season in spring and summer. This species' unproductive life history characteristics (reaches maturity at 11.2 to 13.4 years; longevity is 26 to 30 years) likely render it vulnerable to exploitation and population depletion, like many deepwater chondrichthyans. Chimaera montrosa is taken in deepwater trawl fisheries in the Northeast Atlantic and is either landed as byproduct or is a component of discarded bycatch. There is a continuing trend of increasing deepwater fishing activities in the North Atlantic, while regulation is often lagging. C. montrosa had the largest discard biomass of all chondrichthyans in a study of the discards of the French bottom trawl fleet from the South Rockall Bank to the northerly slopes of the Wyville-Thomson Ridge and constitutes 13 to 15% of the discards in deepwater trawlers operating off the West Coast of Ireland. Survival rates of discards are likely low given the depths of capture and the fact that many discards are undersized individuals or are unmarketable individuals (suggesting damage). Increasing interest in the production of dietary supplements for human consumption derived from the liver oil of this species suggests that exploitation is likely to increase. Given that this species' preferred depth range is entirely within the range of current fishing activity, its unproductive life history characteristics, and the suspected high rate of mortality to discards, it is assessed as Near Threatened on the basis of a future suspected decline of >20% in three generations, leading to concern that it may soon qualify for Vulnerable A3bd. Further information is required on deepwater fishing activities (including catch and bycatch levels, effort and trend monitoring). The ban on deepwater trawling below 1,000 m in the Mediterranean may afford this species some protection, but given that its preferred depth range is entirely within the range of fisheries in this region, both present and future fishing pressure is likely unsustainable for C. montrosa.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Widespread throughout the northeastern Atlantic from the southern Arctic to Morocco (about 80°N to 30°N latitude) including the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Mediterranean. Common in the western and central Mediterranean, rare in the Eastern Mediterranean, and absent from the North and central Adriatic.
Countries:	Native: Albania; Algeria; Cyprus; Denmark; Faroe Islands; France (Corse); Germany; Gibraltar; Greece; Guernsey; Iceland; Ireland; Isle of Man; Italy (Sardegna, Sicilia); Jersey; Lebanon; Malta; Monaco; Morocco; Norway; Portugal (Azores, Madeira); Spain (Baleares, Canary Is.); Sweden; Tunisia; United Kingdom (Great Britain, Northern Ireland)
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Atlantic – eastern central; Atlantic – northeast; Mediterranean and Black Sea
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Appears to aggregate in groups and, like other species of chimaeroids, may be segregated by age and sex. Nothing is known of population structure, but this species may be represented by two or more separate subpopulations (e.g., the Mediterranean population may be separate from that found in the North Sea).
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Chimaera monstrosa is a benthopelagic species that prefers upper to middle continental slope habitats at depths of 300 m to 500 m with a reported maximum depth of 1,663 m. Detailed bathymetrical distribution follows: Depth distribution according to (Whitehead et al. 1984) is 50 m to 1,000 m and most abundant between 300 and 500 m. Ehrich (1983) however reports that this species is caught at depths of 173 m to 1,663 m to the west of the British Isles. Highest densities were found between 500 m and 700 m. Hareide et al. (1997) reports collection of this species between 630 m and 825 m from the western slope of the Porcupine Bank. No specimens were found between 825 m and 1,400 m. In the Mediterranean Sea this species is abundant in all areas, from 100 m depth, but it is most abundant between 500 m and 800 m (Baino et al. 2001, MEDITS Program). Sion et al. (2004) have also reported several specimens from Balearic Sea at depths of 650 m and from Eastern Ionian Sea at depth of 800 m. Information from Norwegian exploratory surveys to Hatton Bank (1998-2000) shows a depth distribution of 590 m to 1,230 m in temperatures between 4.7 and 8°C. Additional information on distribution by depth and area, length distributions and CPUE data can be found from Irish and Norwegian trawl and longline survey data to the west of the British Isles and Hatton Bank. Summer inshore migrations to 40-100 m have been observed in some areas. Provisional and unvalidated, age and growth characteristics determined by Calis et al. (2005), suggest that C. monstrosa is a typical "K-selected" species characterized by a slow growth rate, a long life expectancy, low fecundity, and a high age-at-maturity. In this study, the von Bertalanffy growth parameters were: L? = 78.87 (cm), K = 0.0673 per year and t₀ = -0.513 (yr). The maximum age estimates observed were 30 years for male and 26 years for female Chimaera monstrosa. However, these ages probably underestimate the true maximum age of this species, owing to the limited sample size examined. Estimated age at first maturity was 13.4 years for males and 11.2 years for females. Oviparous with an apparent spawning season in spring and summer. Nothing is known of early development. Diet consists mainly of bottom-dwelling invertebrates.
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

Chimaera monstrosa is a benthopelagic species that prefers upper to middle continental slope habitats at depths of 300 m to 500 m with a reported maximum depth of 1,663 m. Detailed bathymetrical distribution follows:

Depth distribution according to (Whitehead et al. 1984) is 50 m to 1,000 m and most abundant between 300 and 500 m. Ehrich (1983) however reports that this species is caught at depths of 173 m to 1,663 m to the west of the British Isles. Highest densities were found between 500 m and 700 m. Hareide et al. (1997) reports collection of this species between 630 m and 825 m from the western slope of the Porcupine Bank. No specimens were found between 825 m and 1,400 m. In the Mediterranean Sea this species is abundant in all areas, from 100 m depth, but it is most abundant between 500 m and 800 m (Baino et al. 2001, MEDITS Program). Sion et al. (2004) have also reported several specimens from Balearic Sea at depths of 650 m and from Eastern Ionian Sea at depth of 800 m.

Information from Norwegian exploratory surveys to Hatton Bank (1998-2000) shows a depth distribution of 590 m to 1,230 m in temperatures between 4.7 and 8°C. Additional information on distribution by depth and area, length distributions and CPUE data can be found from Irish and Norwegian trawl and longline survey data to the west of the British Isles and Hatton Bank. Summer inshore migrations to 40-100 m have been observed in some areas.

Provisional and unvalidated, age and growth characteristics determined by Calis et al. (2005), suggest that C. monstrosa is a typical "K-selected" species characterized by a slow growth rate, a long life expectancy, low fecundity, and a high age-at-maturity. In this study, the von Bertalanffy growth parameters were: L? = 78.87 (cm), K = 0.0673 per year and t₀ = -0.513 (yr). The maximum age estimates observed were 30 years for male and 26 years for female Chimaera monstrosa. However, these ages probably underestimate the true maximum age of this species, owing to the limited sample size examined. Estimated age at first maturity was 13.4 years for males and 11.2 years for females.

Oviparous with an apparent spawning season in spring and summer. Nothing is known of early development. Diet consists mainly of bottom-dwelling invertebrates.

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Chimaera montrosa is taken in deepwater trawl fisheries in the Northeast Atlantic and is either landed as byproduct or is a component of discarded bycatch (Crozier in prep.). In a study of discards of the French bottom trawl fleet from the South Rockall Bank to the northerly slopes of the Wyville-Thomson Ridge, C. montrosa had the largest discard biomass of all chondrichthyans (Crozier in prep.). It constitutes 13 to 15% of the discards in deepwater trawlers operating off the West Coast of Ireland (Calis et al. 2005). Survival rates of discards are likely low given the depths of capture, the fact that many discards are undersized individuals or are unmarketable individuals (suggesting damage). There is increasing interest in the production of dietary supplements for human consumption derived from the liver oil of this species, and a directed fishery has the potential to develop in areas of occurrence (Calis et al. 2005). In ICES Subareas VI and VII the Argentina silus and blue ling landings from directed fisheries increased until 2002, but then declined in 2003. Bycatch species in these areas include bluemouth (Helicolenus actylopterus), greater forkbeard (Phycis blennoides), argentine (Argentina silus), deepwater cardinal fish (Epigonus telescopus), and chimaerids, of which Chimaera monstrosa is the most important (ICES 2005). Rihan et al. (2005) have also reported this species as a bycatch from bottom gillnets retrieved from 648 nets recovered during a gill net retrieval survey of Rockall and Porcupine Bank at depths of 400 to 1,300 m during August-September 2005. Evidence of significant quantities of lost and abandoned gear in these areas and of excessive discarding in these fisheries due to long soak times lead to serious concerns about the impact of ghost fishing. There is a need for the immediate introduction of effective management measures in these fisheries to control the quantities of gear being fished and soak time (Rihan et al. 2005). Areas of the Northeast Atlantic, for example the Rockall Trough have been subject to a fairly rapid increase in deepwater fishing activities since the 1990s with overall concern for the sustainability of deepwater fish stocks (Gordon 2003). There is a continuing trend of increasing deepwater fishing activities in the North Atlantic, while regulation is often lagging. Deepwater chimaeroids, like other deepsea chondrichthyans, are potentially at risk from these activities, although little species-specific information is available. Monitoring of deepwater fishing activities, including landings and discards will be essential to ensure that North Atlantic chimaeroid species are not adversely affected. Crozier (in prep.) has shown that high catches of C. montrosa occur between the Rockall Bank to the Wyville-Thomson Ridge, and this likely mirrors catches elsewhere. Further information is required on deepwater fishing activities (including catch and bycatch levels, effort and trend monitoring) in the North Atlantic and the conservation status of this species should be reassessed without delay when such information is available. Both present and future fishing pressure may be shown to be unsustainable for C. montrosa, particularly given its preferred depth range.

Major Threat(s):

Chimaera montrosa is taken in deepwater trawl fisheries in the Northeast Atlantic and is either landed as byproduct or is a component of discarded bycatch (Crozier in prep.). In a study of discards of the French bottom trawl fleet from the South Rockall Bank to the northerly slopes of the Wyville-Thomson Ridge, C. montrosa had the largest discard biomass of all chondrichthyans (Crozier in prep.). It constitutes 13 to 15% of the discards in deepwater trawlers operating off the West Coast of Ireland (Calis et al. 2005). Survival rates of discards are likely low given the depths of capture, the fact that many discards are undersized individuals or are unmarketable individuals (suggesting damage). There is increasing interest in the production of dietary supplements for human consumption derived from the liver oil of this species, and a directed fishery has the potential to develop in areas of occurrence (Calis et al. 2005).

In ICES Subareas VI and VII the Argentina silus and blue ling landings from directed fisheries increased until 2002, but then declined in 2003. Bycatch species in these areas include bluemouth (Helicolenus actylopterus), greater forkbeard (Phycis blennoides), argentine (Argentina silus), deepwater cardinal fish (Epigonus telescopus), and chimaerids, of which Chimaera monstrosa is the most important (ICES 2005).

Rihan et al. (2005) have also reported this species as a bycatch from bottom gillnets retrieved from 648 nets recovered during a gill net retrieval survey of Rockall and Porcupine Bank at depths of 400 to 1,300 m during August-September 2005. Evidence of significant quantities of lost and abandoned gear in these areas and of excessive discarding in these fisheries due to long soak times lead to serious concerns about the impact of ghost fishing. There is a need for the immediate introduction of effective management measures in these fisheries to control the quantities of gear being fished and soak time (Rihan et al. 2005).

Areas of the Northeast Atlantic, for example the Rockall Trough have been subject to a fairly rapid increase in deepwater fishing activities since the 1990s with overall concern for the sustainability of deepwater fish stocks (Gordon 2003). There is a continuing trend of increasing deepwater fishing activities in the North Atlantic, while regulation is often lagging. Deepwater chimaeroids, like other deepsea chondrichthyans, are potentially at risk from these activities, although little species-specific information is available. Monitoring of deepwater fishing activities, including landings and discards will be essential to ensure that North Atlantic chimaeroid species are not adversely affected. Crozier (in prep.) has shown that high catches of C. montrosa occur between the Rockall Bank to the Wyville-Thomson Ridge, and this likely mirrors catches elsewhere. Further information is required on deepwater fishing activities (including catch and bycatch levels, effort and trend monitoring) in the North Atlantic and the conservation status of this species should be reassessed without delay when such information is available. Both present and future fishing pressure may be shown to be unsustainable for C. montrosa, particularly given its preferred depth range.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) banned bottom trawling below depths of 1,000 m in the Mediterranean. This measure was adopted by all members of the GFCM and came into force in September 2005. Continued monitoring of capture and collection of this species is recommended as well as data collection on locality, size, sex, reproductive condition and depth in order to better understand population structure and trends. The development and implementation of management plans (national and/or regional e.g., under the FAO International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks: IPOA-Sharks) are required to facilitate the conservation and sustainable management of all chondrichthyan species in the region.

Conservation Actions:

The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) banned bottom trawling below depths of 1,000 m in the Mediterranean. This measure was adopted by all members of the GFCM and came into force in September 2005.

Continued monitoring of capture and collection of this species is recommended as well as data collection on locality, size, sex, reproductive condition and depth in order to better understand population structure and trends.

The development and implementation of management plans (national and/or regional e.g., under the FAO International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks: IPOA-Sharks) are required to facilitate the conservation and sustainable management of all chondrichthyan species in the region.

Bibliography [top]

	Abella, A.J. and Serena, F. 2002. Comparison of elasmobranch catches of trawl surveys and commercial landings of the port of Viareggio (North Tyrrhenian-South Ligurian Sea-Italy) in the last decade. NAFO Scientific Council Research Document 02/95. Aldebert, Y. 1997. Demersal resources of the Gulf of Lions (NW Mediterranean). Impact of exploitation on fish diversity. Vie et Millieu 47: 275?284. Baino, R., Serena, F., Ragonese, S., Rey, J. and Rinelli, P. 2001. Catch composition and abundance of Elasmobranchs based on the MEDITS program. Rapports de la Commission Internationale pour L?Exploration Scientifique de la Mer Mediterranee 36:234. Bello, G. 1995. Heteroteuthis dispar (cephalopoda:sepiolidae) nella dieta di selaci demersali. Biologia Marina Mediterránea 2(2): 211-215. Bello, G. 1999. The Chondrichthyans of the Adriatic Sea. Acta Adriatica 40(1): 65?76 Calis, E., Jackson, E. H., Nolan, C. P. and Jeal, F. 2005. Preliminary Age and Growth Estimates of the Rabbitfish, Chimaera monstrosa, with Implications for Future Resource Management. Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Science 35: 21. Crozier, P. In prep. The impact of fishing on populations of deep-water chondrichthyan and teleost fishes of the Northeast Atlantic. Ph.D. Thesis. Didier, D.A. 1998. The leopard Chimaera, a new species of chimaeroid fish from New Zealand (Holocephali, Chimaeriformes, Chimaeridae). Icthyological Research 45(3): 281-289. Economidis, P.S. 1973. Catalogue of the fishes of Greece. Reprinted from Hellenic Oceanology and Limnology. Economidis, P.S. 2001. Common names of Hellenic marine fishes. Unpublished Technical Report. Aristotle University. Economidis, P.S. and Koutrakis, E. 2001. Common names of commercially important Hellenic marine organisms. Unpublished Technical Report. Aristotle University. Erzini, K., Bentes, L., Coelho, R., Correia, C., Lino, P.G., Monteiro, P., Ribeiro, J. and Goncalves, J.M.S. 2002. Semi Pelagic longline and trammel net elasmobranch catches in the Algarve (southern Portugal): catch composition, catch rates and discards. NAFO Scientific Council Research Document 02/90. Ferretti, F. 2003. Comportamento alimentare di Chimaera monstrosa L., 1758 (Holocephali, Chimaeridae), nei fondi batiali liguri. B.Sc. Thesis, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Rome, Italy. Fiorentino, F., Massi, D., Zamboni, A. and Relini, G. 1995. Rendimenti dello strascico batiale del Mar Ligure centro-orientale in una serie pluriennale di osservazioni. Biologia Marina Mediterránea 2(2): 191-197. Gordon, J.D.M. 2003. The Rockall Trough, Northeast Atlantic: the cradle of deep-sea biological oceanography that is now being subjected to unsustainable fishing activity. Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Science 31: 57-83. Goren, M. and Galil, B.S. 1997. New record of deep-sea fishes from the Levanti Basin and a note on the deep-sea fishes of the Mediterranean. Israel Journal of Zoology 42(2): 197-203. ICES. 2005. Report of the ICES Advisory Committee on Fishery Management, Advisory Committee on the Marine Environment and Advisory Committee on Ecosystems, 2005. Volumes 1-11. IUCN. 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 12th September 2007). IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. Specialist Group website. Available at: http://www.iucnssg.org/. Luchetti, E. 2001. Alimentazione di Chimaera monstrosa L., 1758 (Holocephali, Chimaeridae), nel Canale di Sicilia. B.Sc. Thesis, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Bologna, Italy. MacPherson, E. 1979. Relations trophiques des poisons dans la Méditerranée occidentale. Rapp. Comm. Int. Expl. Sci. Mer Médit. 25/26: 49-58. MacPherson, E. 1980. Food and feeding of Chimaera monstrosa, Linnaeus 1758, in the western Mediterranean. Journal du Conseil 39(1): 26-29. MacPherson, E. 1981. Resource partioning in a Mediterranean demersal fish community. Marine Ecology Progress Series 4: 183-193. Madurell, T. and Cartes, J.E. 2001. Spatio-temporal patterns in a demersal fish assemblage of the Ionian Sea (Eastern Mediterranean). NAFO Scientific Council Research Document 01/133. Relini, G. 1995. La fauna ittica batiale del Mediterraneo con particolare riferimento ai campionamenti dello strascico. Biologia Marina Mediterránea 2(2): 177?183. Rihan, D., Muligan, M., Roa, R. and Hareide, N. 2005. Irish Gillnet Retrieval Survey for Lost Gear MFV India Rose Rockall & Porcupine Bank August 8th - September 3rd 2005. BIM Report. Sion, L., Bozano, A., D?Onghia, G., Capezzuto, F. and Panza, M. 2004. Chondrichthyes species in deep waters of the Mediterraenan Sea. Scientia Marina 68(Suppl. 3): 153-162. Ungaro, N. 1996. Ruolo dei crostacei decapodi reptanti nello spettro trofico di Chimaera monstrosa L. nell?Adriatico sud-occidentale 3(1): 582-585. Ungaro N. and Marano, C.A. 2000. Notes about the rabbit fish population, Chimaera monstrosa, in the southern Adriatic Sea. In: M. Vacchi, G. La Mesa, F. Serena and B. Seret (eds). Proceedings of the 4th European Elasmobranch Association Meeting, pp: 161-169. ICRAM, ARPAT and SFI, 2002 Livorno, Italy. Ungaro, N., Marano, G. and Rivas, G. 2001. Notes on ichthyofauna of the deep basin of the southern Adriatic Sea. Sarsia 86: 153-156. Ungaro, N., Marano, G., Vlora, A. and Martino, M. 1998. Space time variations of demersal fish assemblages in the south-western Adriatic Sea. Vie et Milieu 48(3): 191-201. Vacchi. M. and Relini Orsi, L. 1979. Alimentazione di Chimaera monstrosa sui fondi batiali liguri. Atti Società Toscana di Scienze Naturali Memoire, Serie B 86 (suppl.): 388-391.

Abella, A.J. and Serena, F. 2002. Comparison of elasmobranch catches of trawl surveys and commercial landings of the port of Viareggio (North Tyrrhenian-South Ligurian Sea-Italy) in the last decade. NAFO Scientific Council Research Document 02/95.

Aldebert, Y. 1997. Demersal resources of the Gulf of Lions (NW Mediterranean). Impact of exploitation on fish diversity. Vie et Millieu 47: 275?284.

Baino, R., Serena, F., Ragonese, S., Rey, J. and Rinelli, P. 2001. Catch composition and abundance of Elasmobranchs based on the MEDITS program. Rapports de la Commission Internationale pour L?Exploration Scientifique de la Mer Mediterranee 36:234.

Bello, G. 1995. Heteroteuthis dispar (cephalopoda:sepiolidae) nella dieta di selaci demersali. Biologia Marina Mediterránea 2(2): 211-215.

Bello, G. 1999. The Chondrichthyans of the Adriatic Sea. Acta Adriatica 40(1): 65?76

Calis, E., Jackson, E. H., Nolan, C. P. and Jeal, F. 2005. Preliminary Age and Growth Estimates of the Rabbitfish, Chimaera monstrosa, with Implications for Future Resource Management. Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Science 35: 21.

Crozier, P. In prep. The impact of fishing on populations of deep-water chondrichthyan and teleost fishes of the Northeast Atlantic. Ph.D. Thesis.

Didier, D.A. 1998. The leopard Chimaera, a new species of chimaeroid fish from New Zealand (Holocephali, Chimaeriformes, Chimaeridae). Icthyological Research 45(3): 281-289.

Economidis, P.S. 1973. Catalogue of the fishes of Greece. Reprinted from Hellenic Oceanology and Limnology.

Economidis, P.S. 2001. Common names of Hellenic marine fishes. Unpublished Technical Report. Aristotle University.

Economidis, P.S. and Koutrakis, E. 2001. Common names of commercially important Hellenic marine organisms. Unpublished Technical Report. Aristotle University.

Erzini, K., Bentes, L., Coelho, R., Correia, C., Lino, P.G., Monteiro, P., Ribeiro, J. and Goncalves, J.M.S. 2002. Semi Pelagic longline and trammel net elasmobranch catches in the Algarve (southern Portugal): catch composition, catch rates and discards. NAFO Scientific Council Research Document 02/90.

Ferretti, F. 2003. Comportamento alimentare di Chimaera monstrosa L., 1758 (Holocephali, Chimaeridae), nei fondi batiali liguri. B.Sc. Thesis, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Rome, Italy.

Fiorentino, F., Massi, D., Zamboni, A. and Relini, G. 1995. Rendimenti dello strascico batiale del Mar Ligure centro-orientale in una serie pluriennale di osservazioni. Biologia Marina Mediterránea 2(2): 191-197.

Gordon, J.D.M. 2003. The Rockall Trough, Northeast Atlantic: the cradle of deep-sea biological oceanography that is now being subjected to unsustainable fishing activity. Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Science 31: 57-83.

Goren, M. and Galil, B.S. 1997. New record of deep-sea fishes from the Levanti Basin and a note on the deep-sea fishes of the Mediterranean. Israel Journal of Zoology 42(2): 197-203.

ICES. 2005. Report of the ICES Advisory Committee on Fishery Management, Advisory Committee on the Marine Environment and Advisory Committee on Ecosystems, 2005. Volumes 1-11.

IUCN. 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 12th September 2007).

IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. Specialist Group website. Available at: http://www.iucnssg.org/.

Luchetti, E. 2001. Alimentazione di Chimaera monstrosa L., 1758 (Holocephali, Chimaeridae), nel Canale di Sicilia. B.Sc. Thesis, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

MacPherson, E. 1979. Relations trophiques des poisons dans la Méditerranée occidentale. Rapp. Comm. Int. Expl. Sci. Mer Médit. 25/26: 49-58.

MacPherson, E. 1980. Food and feeding of Chimaera monstrosa, Linnaeus 1758, in the western Mediterranean. Journal du Conseil 39(1): 26-29.

MacPherson, E. 1981. Resource partioning in a Mediterranean demersal fish community. Marine Ecology Progress Series 4: 183-193.

Madurell, T. and Cartes, J.E. 2001. Spatio-temporal patterns in a demersal fish assemblage of the Ionian Sea (Eastern Mediterranean). NAFO Scientific Council Research Document 01/133.

Relini, G. 1995. La fauna ittica batiale del Mediterraneo con particolare riferimento ai campionamenti dello strascico. Biologia Marina Mediterránea 2(2): 177?183.

Rihan, D., Muligan, M., Roa, R. and Hareide, N. 2005. Irish Gillnet Retrieval Survey for Lost Gear MFV India Rose Rockall & Porcupine Bank August 8th - September 3rd 2005. BIM Report.

Sion, L., Bozano, A., D?Onghia, G., Capezzuto, F. and Panza, M. 2004. Chondrichthyes species in deep waters of the Mediterraenan Sea. Scientia Marina 68(Suppl. 3): 153-162.

Ungaro, N. 1996. Ruolo dei crostacei decapodi reptanti nello spettro trofico di Chimaera monstrosa L. nell?Adriatico sud-occidentale 3(1): 582-585.

Ungaro N. and Marano, C.A. 2000. Notes about the rabbit fish population, Chimaera monstrosa, in the southern Adriatic Sea. In: M. Vacchi, G. La Mesa, F. Serena and B. Seret (eds). Proceedings of the 4th European Elasmobranch Association Meeting, pp: 161-169. ICRAM, ARPAT and SFI, 2002 Livorno, Italy.

Ungaro, N., Marano, G. and Rivas, G. 2001. Notes on ichthyofauna of the deep basin of the southern Adriatic Sea. Sarsia 86: 153-156.

Ungaro, N., Marano, G., Vlora, A. and Martino, M. 1998. Space time variations of demersal fish assemblages in the south-western Adriatic Sea. Vie et Milieu 48(3): 191-201.

Vacchi. M. and Relini Orsi, L. 1979. Alimentazione di Chimaera monstrosa sui fondi batiali liguri. Atti Società Toscana di Scienze Naturali Memoire, Serie B 86 (suppl.): 388-391.

Citation:	Dagit,D.D., Hareide, N. & Clò, S. 2007. Chimaera monstrosa. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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