On the shelves of Russian began to appear more and more fish called "sea rabbit" or "bearded" (photo you can see in this article).Most often it is sold without heads, and many have a question: "What is actually the fish look like?" Immediately it should be noted that sea hares - it is not only fish, but also representatives of the seals.But here we go just about fish.
sea hares are not more than the European chimera.This benthic deep-sea fish, which belongs to the subclass of cartilaginous fish slitnocherepnyh or holocephali.Today, there is one unit Chimaeriformes (himeroobraznye).They inhabit shelf and slope of the continental shelf at a depth of 2500 meters in the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.Norway and Iceland to the Mediterranean Sea, the Barents Sea and off the coast of South Africa there are sea hares.
Chimeras are, though distant, but relatives of modern sharks.Sometimes referred to as "ghost sharks."In ancient times, these representatives of the oceans were the common ancestors, but approximately 400 million years ago, they were divided into 2 group.Some began to dwell near the water surface, while others fell to the depth and eventually acquired the face of modern chimeras.
bearded seal in length usually does not exceed 1.5 meters, while half is long and thin tail.Their dorsal fins begin from the middle of the back and ends at the tip of the tail.In general, the fins of the fish are very similar to the wings, and so it seems that they do not swim, and fly.In front of the fin fish sea hare (photo clearly shows this) it has poisonous spines that protect them from the great enemies.But we must say that the chimeras are not so much.Their main enemies are large voracious female indiakantov.The great danger threatens the young representatives of marine birds and it comes from their now distant relatives - sharks.In chimeras skin color can vary from shades of gray to almost black.There may be a contrasting large spots.
Sami sea hares are hunted, as well as other inhabitants of the depths, to the touch.The only attribute to attract prey - a sensitive lateral line.For her, as if the light, eager curious mollusks, worms, crustaceans, echinoderms and small fish.But such curiosity in most cases ends in the jaws of a chimera.And her strong jaw with 3 rows of very strong teeth easily digested even the hardest shells.
Because these fish habitat study them very difficult.Therefore, their ways of hunting, breeding habits, and not much is known.They practice internal fertilization.Propagate by using eggs.During this period, in the ovaries of the female find them in large quantities and with varying degrees of development.The most mature of them dressed in the cornea.
Until the beginning of XX century, sea hares had no commercial value.First, they are very difficult to extract.And secondly, it was considered inedible meat chimeras, and today it is not everyone likes.Though, probably, it is necessary to know how to cook.The medicine used fat extracted from their livers.Also it is used as a lubricant.But their eggs were a real treat.
