A new species of chimera fish with a nightmarish appearance has been found off the coast of Thailand

American oceanologists from the University of California at San Jose have stumbled upon a new, hitherto unseen species of chimera fish, also known as ghost sharks or rat fish. The discovery was made in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Thailand. The study was published in the scientific journal Raffles Bulletin of Zoology (RBZ).

The carcass of a male chimera was discovered during bottom trawling at a depth of 775 meters. The specimen turned out to be 51 centimeters long, of which 32% was on the head. The animal was distinguished by its wide pectoral fins, resembling frills of feathers. According to experts, they allow creatures to maneuver along the bottom with rocky terrain.

The new species of chimaera was given the name Chimaera supapae. It became the 54th known species of this family. The species was named after the Thai scientist Supap Monkolprasit, who devoted her life to the study of cartilaginous fish.

Chimeras or chimeras are one of the most ancient cartilaginous fish that have survived to the present day. They appeared about 300-400 million years ago, that is, much earlier than the first dinosaurs appeared. Chimeras are relatives of sharks and rays and rarely catch people's eyes, preferring to hide at depths of 500 meters or more. These fish feed on worms and other bottom organisms, navigating in pitch darkness thanks to their large eyes.