PALEO-SHARKS:
For detailed information on ancient, prehistoric sharks please visit our Paleo-Shark Pages.
CLASS:
Elasmobranchii is the class which includes sharks and batoids (rays). Elasmobranchs are characterized by cylindrical or flattened bodies, five to seven pairs of gill slits, an upper jaw not fused to their cranium, and placoid scales (which will be discussed later).
ELASMOBRANCHII ORDER & FAMILY:
There are 375+ known species of sharks. There are 9 orders of sharks and 6 orders of batoids. The charts below lists these orders.
SHARKS:
| Order |
Family |
Example |
| Carcharhiniformes |
Carcharhinididae |
Requiem Sharks |
| Hemigaleidae |
Weasel Sharks |
| Leptochariidae |
Barbled Houndsharks |
| Proscylliidae |
Finback Catsharks |
| Pseudotriakidae |
False Catsharks |
| Scyliorhinidae |
Catsharks |
| Sphyrnidae |
Hammerhead Sharks |
| Triakidae |
Houndsharks |
| Heterodontiformes |
Heterodontidae |
Bullhead Sharks |
| Hexanchiformes |
Chlamydoselachidae |
Frilled Sharks |
| Hexanchidae |
Cow Sharks |
| Lamniformes |
Alopiidae |
Thresher Sharks |
| Cetorhinidae |
Basking Sharks |
| Lamnidae |
Mackerel Sharks |
| Megachasmidae |
Megamouth Sharks |
| Mitsukurinidae |
Goblin sharks |
| Odontaspididae |
Sand Tiger Sharks |
| Pseudocarchariidae |
Crocodile Sharks |
| Orectolobiformes |
Brachaeluridae |
Blind Sharks |
| Ginglymostomatidae |
Nurse Sharks |
| Hemiscylliidae |
Longtailed Carpetsharks |
| Orectolobidae |
Wobbegongs |
| Parascylliidae |
Collared Carpetsharks |
| Rhiniodontidae |
Whale Sharks |
| Stegostomatidae |
Zebra Sharks |
| Pristiophoriformes |
Pristiophoridae |
Sawsharks |
| Squaliformes |
Squalidae |
Dogfish Sharks |
| Centrophoridae |
Gulper Sharks |
| Etmoptereidae |
Lantern Sharks |
| Somniosidae |
Sleeper Sharks |
| Oxynotidae |
Rough Sharks |
| Dalatiidae |
Kitefin Sharks |
| Squatiniformes |
Squatinidae |
Angel Sharks |
| Echinorhiniformes |
Echinorhinidae |
Bramble Sharks |
BATOIDS:
| Order |
Family |
Example |
| Rhiniformes |
Rhina anclyostoma |
Sharkfin Guitarfish |
| Pristiformes |
Pristidae |
Sawfishes |
| Rhinobatiformes |
Rhinobatidae |
Guitarfishes |
| Platyrhynchidae |
Thornback Rays |
| Torpediniformes |
Narcinidae |
Numbfishes |
| Narkidae |
Sleeper Rays |
| Hypnidae |
Coffin Ray |
| Torpedinidae |
Torpedo Rays |
| Rajiformes |
Rajidae |
Skates |
| Myliobatiformes |
Plesiobatidae |
Giant Stingarees |
| Hexatrygonidae |
Sixgill Stingrays |
| Urolophidae |
Stingarees |
| Potamotrygonidae |
River Stingrays |
| Dasyatidae |
Whiptail Stingrays |
| Gymnuridae |
Butterfly Rays |
| Myliobatidae |
Eagle Rays |
| Rhinopteridae |
Cownose Ray |
| Mobulidae |
Devil Rays |
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