The leopard Chimaera, a new species of chimaeroid fish from New Zealand (Holocephali, Chimaeriformes, Chimaeridae)

A new species of Chimaera is described from three specimens collected from deep water fishing grounds off the North Island of New Zealand at depths ranging from 327-1020 m. This species is distinguished from all other members of the genus by gray coloration with chocolate brown reticulations and spots covering the body and fins, as well as additional external features such as rounded pelvic fins, first dorsal fin with distinct white margin, preopercular and oral lateral line canals sharing a common branch, and morphology of pelvic claspers in males bifid, the distal 1/3 divided, with pale colored fleshy, distal lobes. Comparisons are made to C. monstrosa and C. owstoni, the two most similar species in the genus. This represents the first species of Chimaera to be described from New Zealand.