prickleback

The pricklesharks, also known as prickelbacks, are a family of cartilaginous fishes that belong to the order Chimaeriformes. They are relatively small, marine animals found in temperate and tropical waters around the world. Pricklesharks are characterized by their distinctive appearance, which includes a spiny, shark-like body and a long snout.

There are seven recognized species within the family: Chimaera monilis, Chimaera phantasma, Chimaera argus, Hydrolagus africanus, Hydrolagus erithacus, Henricia ocellata and Hydrolagus colliei. These species are distributed across various oceans and seas, with some found in deeper waters, while others inhabit shallower depths near coastal areas.

Pricklesharks are known for their feeding behavior, which involves using their head to dig into sediment on the seafloor in search of small crustaceans, mollusks, and other invertebrates. They are generally docile animals and are not typically aggressive towards humans.

Pricklesharks are of interest to taxonomists due to their unique position within the class Chondrichthyes, which includes sharks, rays, and skates. Fossil records indicate that the first chimaeroid fossils emerged around 280 million years ago, with some species being remarkably similar to modern pricklebacks. Despite their long evolutionary history, pricklebacks remain poorly understood in some aspects, and ongoing research is aimed at shedding more light on their biology and ecological significance.