Members of the Chimaeridae are found in both tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, mostly below 200 m. They feed on bottom invertebrates and small fishes, which are crushed or cut up by their tooth plates.
There are 2 genera and about 45 species worldwide. Hydrolagus genus is distinguished by their anal fin which is confluent with their caudal fin, while Chimaera genus anal fin and caudal fin are separated. Malaysia has both genera but only 3 species. They are not very common in Malaysia, mainly only found in the deep water of Sabah and Sarawak, and rarely caught.