Basking Sharks got their name
because they often swim slowly near
the surface while feeding, behavior
that was mistaken for basking in
the sun. They also do not avoid ap-
proaching boats, making them easy
to spear or ram. This harassment
and serious overfishing have caused
their populations to crash world-
wide.Photo courtesy of Jeff Rotman,
http://www.jeffrotman.com
(To p) The Spotted Ratfish,Hydro-
lagus colliei, an abundant chimaera
of the Pacific Coast of the United
States and Canada. (Bottom) Head
of a Spotted Ratfish. Chimaeras have
distinctive lateral-line canals on their
heads, highly reflective eyes, and
mobile pectoral fins that they “flap”
during swimming. Note also the
beaklike teeth that give the group
their alternative name, rabbitfish.
Photos by Gene Helfman