Northwest Dive Club

I was getting in position to take this creatures picture when I noticed a white hand like appendage waving at me from the top of its’ head. I had to do some research since I hadn’t noticed it in other rat fish.

“All chimaeroid fishes are oviparous. Males possess elaborate copulatory organs on their pelvic fins, which they use to transfer sperm to the female oviducts. Males also possess 2 additional organs used copulation. Unique to chimaeroids is a club-like frontal tenaculum armed with multiple rows of denticles which emerges from the top of the head in sexually mature males. It has been observed that the frontal tenaculum is used to
grasp the posterior edge of the pectoral fin of the female to aid in positioning the male during copulation. “

Credit quote above, D.A. Didier, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

it was trying to get ...friendly with your camera (or its reflection in your camera)

... ah, the fish version of "pull my finger" ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

I started to wonder what its' intentions were!

the frontal tenaculum is used to
grasp the posterior edge of the pectoral fin of the female to aid in positioning the male during copulation.