. Dangerous marine animals. Marine animals. MARINE ANIMALS THAT STING 65 to the gill chamber. Externally, ratfishes are more or less com- pressed laterally, tapering posteriorly to a slender tail. The snout is rounded, or cone-shaped, extended as a long pointed beak, or bears a curious hoe-shaped proboscis. There are two dorsal fins. The first fin is triangular, usually higher than the second, and edged anteriorly by a strong, sharp-pointed bony spine which serves as a venom organ (Fig. 36). Ratfishes have a preference for cooler. Fig. 36. Dorsal spine of the ratfish, Hydrolagus colliei (Lay a
. Dangerous marine animals. Marine animals. MARINE ANIMALS THAT STING 65 to the gill chamber. Externally, ratfishes are more or less com- pressed laterally, tapering posteriorly to a slender tail. The snout is rounded, or cone-shaped, extended as a long pointed beak, or bears a curious hoe-shaped proboscis. There are two dorsal fins. The first fin is triangular, usually higher than the second, and edged anteriorly by a strong, sharp-pointed bony spine which serves as a venom organ (Fig. 36). Ratfishes have a preference for cooler. Fig. 36. Dorsal spine of the ratfish, Hydrolagus colliei (Lay and Bennett). waters, and have a depth range from the surface down to 1400 fathoms. They are weak swimmers and die soon after being re- moved from the water. They have well-developed dental plates and can inflict a nasty bite. Only two species have been studied to any extent by venomologists. Species of Ratfishes : European Chimaera, Chimaeramonstrosa Linnaeus (Fig. 37, Top). Inhabits the north Atlantic Ocean from Norway and Iceland to Cuba, the Azores, Morocco, Mediterranean Sea, and South Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Halstead, Bruce W. Cambridge, Md. , Cornell Maritime Press
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookcollectionbiodive, booksubjectmarineanimals
