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October 31, 2021: Chimaera

This chimaera was observed at around 1,850 meters (6,070 feet) depth during a dive to explore an unnamed seamount within Phoenix Islands Protected Area as part of the Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific Marine Protected Areas expedition.

Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific MPAs. Download larger version (jpg, 820 KB).

This chimaera was observed at around 1,850 meters (6,070 feet) depth during a dive to explore an unnamed seamount within Phoenix Islands Protected Area as part of the Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific Marine Protected Areas expedition. These fish are distant relatives of sharks and have skeletons made out of cartilage.

They are also commonly known as ghost fish. BOO!