Head to head
Chimaera vs Shark
The chimaera and shark both belong to the cartilaginous fish, but their evolutionary paths diverged hundreds of millions of years ago, leaving them very differently built.
| Chimaera | Shark | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Chimaeriformes | Selachimorpha |
| Skin | Smooth, no denticles | Rough, covered in denticles |
| Teeth | Fused tooth plates | Individual, constantly replaced teeth |
| Lineage age | Split from sharks ~400 million years ago | Existed for ~450 million years |
| Defence | Venomous dorsal spine | Varies by species |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Not Evaluated (as a group) |
| Population trend | Unknown | Decreasing |
| Habitat | Ocean | Ocean, coastal |
Chimaera vs Shark: common questions
How long ago did the chimaera split from sharks?
The chimaera belongs to a lineage that split from the ancestors of modern sharks approximately 400 million years ago, while sharks themselves have existed for around 450 million years, making both extremely ancient groups of cartilaginous fish.
Does the chimaera have teeth like a shark?
No, the chimaera has flattened, fused tooth plates rather than the rows of individual, constantly replaced teeth found in sharks, an adaptation suited to crushing hard-shelled prey.
How can you tell a chimaera from a shark by touch?
The chimaera has smooth skin lacking denticles, while shark skin is covered in tooth-like denticles that give it a rough, sandpaper-like texture.