male Spotted ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei) on a fish board with tape measuring in centimeters - fish has brownish top and sides with various sized white spots; ventral side is lighter; several dorsal fins (horizontally striped brown, then white nearest body) w the front dorsal fin sporting a poisonous spine (held by the surveyor); pectoral fins are greyish, large and triangular shaped with bottom mud splotched on top; pelvic fins are greyish, rectangular and are partially covered by claspers; caudal fin is filamentous; strong, dark lateral lines and canals run the length of the body & on "face". specimen measured in at around 45cm. the board is set on a chrome surface and the surveyor's gloved thumb is holding the fish steady on the measure tape. I wish pictures did justice to how shiny & colorful these fish are- sort of rainbow hues "overlaying" the browns and greys, depending on the light.

Spotted ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei), reproductive male, in the gloved clutches of an orange vested fish surveyor showing, especially, the head, with its large eyes and open mouth, grooved lateral lines and heavy, pink, tenaculum (frontal claspers). Greyish pectoral fin is also very visible above the muddy gloved hand. The males use the claspers on their head to help grab the females during mating and can leave scratches. Spotted ratfish are related to sharks, skates and rays ( class, Chondrychthyes; family Chimaeridae), have skin more like sharks and rays rather than scaly fish (i.e salmon, tuna, mackeral etc) and represnt 1 of (possibly) 3 species of Hydralagus (ratfish) found off the coast of California. The pics dont show how truly beautiful the skin color shines. Spectacular and interesting fish.

back-end view of the pelvic claspers of Spotted ratfish (Hydrolagis colliei) collected during offshore marine fish survey trip in the NE Pacific. the picture isn't well focused but gives a good general representation of size and proportions of this individual. Hand of surveyor is approximately a medium male sized hand. Fish still has mud from sea floor but is generally grey/brown, darker dorsally and lighter ventrally. Claspers are pink and grey. Very back of pic is white-ish over-exposed view of the inside of survey vessel, the space between the railing and the sky; vessel floor is grey. I experienced my worst seasick event EVER this trip and am happy I didnt fall overboard while praying to the seagods. Even so, also happy to have grabbed a few pics . memories of days in the field are rarely surpassed by trials and tribulations: worth it!

🦑🦈🐟🌿📷🌎🧪👩🏽‍🔬
#marinefish #marinebiology #chondrichtyes #ecology #conservation
Male Chimaera, Hydrolagus colliei (Spotted ratfish) - fall sampling trip, NE Pac, N. Cal shows pelvic claspers, tenaculum (cephalic claspers). These cartilagenous fish live near the sea floor & crunch on crabs & worms & such