Selachians Extraordinary 289 



Chimaeras, which are not known to grow to more than 5 feet, are 

 usually divided into about 28 species distributed among three families. 

 The most common family, Chi?naeridae, encompasses short-nosed, long- 

 tailed species possessing venomous spines in front of their first dorsal 

 fins. The Rhi?iochimaeridae family is devoted to the long-nosed species. 

 The third family, Callorhinchidae, includes the weird-looking Elephant 

 fish (also waggishly called the Southern Beauty in Australia). All mem- 

 bers of this family have flexible noses which resemble the elephant's 

 trunk. 



Bishopfish. 



Courtesy, American Museum of Natural History 



