ratfish

American  

[rat-fish] / ˈrætˌfɪʃ /

noun

plural

ratfish,

plural

ratfishes

1. a chimaera, Hydrolagus colliei, of the Pacific Ocean from Alaska to Baja California, having a ratlike tail.

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ratfish British  

/ ˈrætˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. another name for rabbitfish

2. a chimaera, Hydrolagus colliei , of the North Pacific Ocean, which has a long narrow tail

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Etymology

Origin of ratfish

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; rat + fish

Example Sentences

Spotted ratfish also use pelvic claspers for mating, similar to many other cartilaginous fish.

From Science Daily • Oct. 16, 2025

Several species of fish patrolled the reefs, including skates, sharks and ratfish, whose large, emerald-green eyes gather the scant light available in these inky depths.

From Scientific American • Nov. 2, 2023

Although park officials say Strigilodus tollesonae is a shark, they qualify it by noting that the species is more closely related to the modern ratfish than to today’s sharks.

From Washington Times • Oct. 12, 2023

Both animals belong firmly to the branch of jawed fish called the chondrichthyans, the group of cartilaginous fish that include modern sharks, rays and ratfish.

From New York Times • Sep. 28, 2022

Also known as chimaera or ratfish, ghost sharks have long fins and vacant eyes that make even great whites seem friendly.

From National Geographic • Jun. 12, 2017