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Ogilby's ghostshark (Hydrolagus ogilbyi) — Chimaeridae

Ogilby's ghostshark

Hydrolagus ogilbyi
Family: Chimaeridae

The Ogilby's ghostshark (Hydrolagus ogilbyi) is a fish of the family Chimaeridae that grows up to 90 cm.

Length
90.4 cm
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Can cause injury
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

Ogilby's ghostshark is a chimaera (Chimaeridae), related to sharks and rays, from coastal and slope waters around southern Australia. The species grows to about 90 cm and has a soft, cartilaginous, bronzy body with large eyes, smooth skin and a long, thread-like tail tip. Before the first dorsal fin stands a stout spine linked to a weak venom. As a bottom-dweller it crushes molluscs and crustaceans with flat tooth plates. The dorsal spine can cause a painful wound; handle with care.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Ogilby's ghostshark?

The Ogilby's ghostshark is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Ogilby's ghostshark live?

The Ogilby's ghostshark is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Ogilby's ghostshark get?

The Ogilby's ghostshark grows to a maximum of about 90 cm. On average the species is around 54 cm.

Is the Ogilby's ghostshark dangerous to humans?

The Ogilby's ghostshark can cause injury; handle it with care.

Is the Ogilby's ghostshark edible?

The Ogilby's ghostshark is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Ogilbys spookvis sourced
English name
Ogilby's ghostshark sourced
Scientific name
Hydrolagus ogilbyi
Family
Chimaeridae

Appearance

Max length (cm)
90.4 verified
Average length (cm)
54.2 sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Can cause injury verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Hydrolagus

More from the family Chimaeridae

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