Taxonomy

Chlamydoselachus anguineus

Hexanchus griseus

Echinorhinus cookei

Squalus mitsukurii

Centrophorus tessellatus

Centroscyllium nigrum

Etmopterus bigelowi

Etmopterus lucifer

Etmopterus pusillus

Etmopterus villosus

Trigonognathus kabeyaiis

Scymnodon squamulosus

Dalatias licha

Euprotomicrus bispinatus

Isistius brasiliensis

Rhincodon typus

Odontaspis ferox

Odontaspis noronhai

Pseudocarcharias kamoharai

Megachasma pelagios

Alopias pelagicus

Alopias superciliosus 

Carcharodon carcharias

Isurus oxyrinchus

Isurus paucus

Apristurus spongiceps

Pseudotriakis microdon

Carcharhinus altimus

Carcharhinus galapagensis

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos

Carcharhinus falciformis

Carcharhinus limbatus

Carcharhinus longimanus

Carcharhinus melanopterus

Carcharhinus plumbeus

Galeocerdo cuvier

Prionace glauca

Triaenodon obesus

Sphyrna lewini

Sphyrna zygaena

Cetorhinus maximus

Torpedo nobiliana

Plesiobatis daviesi

Hexatrygon bickelli

Dasyatis dipterura

Brown Stingray

Dasyatis lata

Pelagic stingray

Pteroplatytrygon violacea 

Aetobatus narinari

Manta birostris

Mobula alfredi 

Mobula japanica

Class Chondrichthyes

Subclass Holocephali – ratfish/chimera

Subclass Elasmobranchii – sharks, rays, skates

Subclass Elasmobranchii – sharks, rays, skates

[class chondrichthyes] Divided into 4 super orders:

Superorder Squalomorphii – frill, dogfish, 6-gill

Superorder Galeomorphii – horn, white, whale

Superorder Squatinomorphii - angel

Superorder Batoidea – rays & skates

Selachii / Selachimorpha

(old super order for sharks)

Superorder Galeomorphii

[subclass elasmobranchii] 4 Orders: Heterodontiformes,

Orectolobiformes, Lamniformes, Carcharhiniformes

Order Heterodontiformes

[superorder galeomorphii] Heterodontidae – Horn sharks / 1 family, 1 genus, 9 species

Family Heterodontidae

[order heterodontiformes] Primitive sharks; Both dorsals have spines

Pig-shaped head

Feed on crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms

Oviparous, 4-5ft (120-160cm)

Found in west Indian Ocean & east Pacific

Order Orectolobiformes

[superorder galeomorphii] primitive;

tropical, coastal, & benthic

7 families, 13 genus, 45 species

Family Parascyllidae

[Order Orectolobiformes] Collared carpet sharks

2 small dorsal fins; pects small & robust

Lives near seabed – 18-156m

Feeds on benthic inverts & small fishes

Oviparous, 3ft (90cm)

Found in SW Australia

Family Brachaeluridae

[Order Orectolobiformes] blind sharks

2 dorsals very close together toward rear

Tidal pools & surface waters

Feeds on variety of small inverts

Ovoviviparous, 4ft (122cm)

North & West Coasts of Australia

Family Orectolobidae

[Order Orectolobiformes] wobbegongs

Flattened body, wide head, nasal barbels

Lives on seabed in shallow waters

Feeds on benthic invertebrates, fishes

Ovoviviparous, 9.5ft (288cm)

Found in west Pacific (Japan to Australia)

Family Hemiscyllidae

[Order Orectolobiformes] bamboo sharks

Robust body, elongate tail, rounded snout

Inshore waters on seabed

Feeds on invertebrates

Oviparous, 2.5ft (74cm)

Indo-Pacific; Persian Gulf to Papua NG

Family Ginglystomatidae

[Order Orectolobiformes] nurse sharks

Robust, ventrally flattened body, nasal barbels

Lives in inshore waters on seabed

Feeds on crustaceans, mollusks, fish

Ovoviviparous, 10-14ft (320-430)

Found in Atlantic, Caribbean, Pacific

Family Stegostomatidae

[Order Orectolobiformes] zebra sharks

Large pects, long tail fin, A-spotted, J-striped

Lives on seabed – 5-30m

Feeds on mollusks & crustaceans

Oviparous, 11.5ft (350cm)

Found Indo-Pacific

Family Rhincodoontidae

[Order Orectolobiformes] whale sharks

Massive cylindrical body (up to 18m)

Lives in circumtropical pelagic waters

Feeds on plankton & small fish

Ovoviviparous, 45-60ft (13-18m)

All tropical & warm temperate seas

Order Lamniformes

[superorder galeomorphii] moderate-sized

group of sharks

7 families, 10 genus, 16 species

Family Ondontaspididae

[Order Lamniformes] sand tigers

Robust body, small eyes, no nict. Membrane

Lives on inshore waters near seabeds (220m)

Feeds on fish

Ovoviviparous, 10.5-11.5 (320-360cm)

Mediterranean, Atlantic, Indo-Pacific

Family Mitsukurinidae

[Order Lamniformes] goblin shark

Flabby, elongate body, blade-shaped snout

Lives in deep waters (550m)

Feeds on fish, squid, crayfish

Probably ovoviviparous, 11ft (335cm)

Found in Atlantic & Pacific

Family Pseudocarchariidae

[Order Lamniformes] crocodile shark

Pointed conical snout, large eyes

Lives in oceanic waters, surface to 300m

Feeds on deep pelagic fish, squid

Ovoviviparous, 3.6ft (110cm)

Tropical pelagic Atlantic & Indo-Pacific

Family Lamnidae

[Order Lamniformes] mackerel sharks

Large fusiform bodies, pointed snout

Several species – pelagic waters (150-1000m)

Feeds on fish, cephaolopods, mammals

Ovoviviparous, 13-23ft (400-700cm)

Found in most temperate seas

Family Megachasmidae

[Order Lamniformes] megamouth shark

Large body & head, hundreds of small teeth

Pelagic waters – surface to 150m

Feeds on small pelagic crustaceans

Reproduction unknown, 16ft (480cm)

Pacific (between Japan – Hawaii – California)

Family Alopidae

[Order Lamniformes] thresher sharks

Top lobe tail ½ body length

Inshore to pelagic waters – surface to 366m

Feeds on pelagic shoaling fish

Viviparous, 20ft (600cm)

Found in all warm tropical seas

Family Cetorhinidae

[Order Lamniformes] basking shark

Massive body, large mouth, many small teeth

Typically found in surface waters to 150m

Feeds on small plankton & fish

Reproduction unknown, 33ft (10m)

Coastal temperate seas

Order Carcharhiniformes – sister group of Lamniformes

8 families, 51 genera, 293 species

Family Scyliorhinidae

[Order Carcharhiniformes] cat sharks

Slender body, pointed snout, small teeth

Lives near seabed at depths of 500-1000m

Feeds on deep water invertebrates & fish

Oviparous, 3ft (100cm)

Found in Mediterranean & Atlantic

Family Proscyllidae

[Order Carcharhiniformes] finback cat sharks

Slender body, rounded snout, ribbon-like tail

Lives on seabed 70-766m

Feeds on small fish & crustaceans

Oviparous, 1.5-3ft (50-100m)

Found in Indo-Pacific

Family Pseudotriakidae

[Order Carcharhiniformes] false cat shark

Thick flabby body, pointed snout

Lives near seabed – 200-1500m

Feeds on benthic inverts & fish

Ovoviviparous

Found clustered in Atlantic & Indo-Pacific

Family Leptochariidae

[Order Carcharhiniformes] barbled houndshark

Pointed head, short snout with barbels

Lives near seabed 10-70m

Feeds on benthic crustaceans & small fish

Viviparous

Found in Mediterranean & Atlantic

Family Triakidae

[Order Carcharhiniformes] houndsharks

Long, pointed snout, arched mouth

Lives in pelagic waters – surface to 471m

Feeds on mainly fish

Ovoviviparous, 6ft (195cm)

Found in Atlantic, Pacific, & Mediterranean

Family Hemigalidae

[Order Carcharhiniformes] weasel sharks

Robust body, Elongate, rounded snout

Lives in inshore waters surface to 130m

Feeds on fish

Viviparous, 8ft (420cm)

Found in Indo-Pacific

Family Carcharhinidae

[Order Carcharhiniformes] requiem sharks

Several species of robust sharks

Inshore & pelagic waters – surface to 800m

Feed on fish, cephalopods, turtles, mammals

All Viviparous except tiger (Ovoviviparous)

All oceans; many potentially dangerous

Over 24 species, 5-16ft (170-500cm)

Family Sphyrnidae

[Order Carcharhiniformes] hammerhead sharks

Unique flattened head in all species

Inshore & pelagic waters – surface to 275m

Feed on fish & cephalopods

Viviparous, 14-20ft (420-610)

Found in all tropical & warm temperate seas

Superorder Squalomorphii

[Subclass Elasmobranchii] 4 Orders: Hexanchiformes,

Echinorhinoformes, Pristioporiformes, & Squaliformes

Order Hexanchiformes

[Superorder Squalomorphii] 2 families, 4 genera, 6 species

Chlamydoselachidae – (frilled sharks)

Hexanchidae – (cow sharks)

Family Chlamydoselachidae

[Order Hexanchiformes] frilled sharks

Elongate almost eel-like body

Lives near seabed 120-1280m

Feeds on cephalopods & benthic fish

Ovoviviparous, 6.4ft (196cm)

Clustered in Atlantic, Pacific, Indian

Family Hexanchidae

[Order Hexanchiformes] cow sharks

Distinctive six to seven gills

Lives near seabed 27-1,000m

Feeds on fish & squid

Ovoviviparous, 5-16ft (137-482)

Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indo-Pacific

Order Echinorhiniformes

[Superorder Squalomorphii] 1 Family, 1 genus, 2 species

Echinorhinidae – (bramble sharks)

Family Echinorhinidae

[Order Echinorhiniformes] bramble sharks

Thick body, short snout, last gill slit larger

Lives near seabed 18-900m

Feeds on fish & smaller sharks

Ovoviviparous

Temperate seas especially east Atlantic

Order Pristiophoriformes

[Superorder Squalomorphii] 1 Family, 2 genera, 8 species (4 des/4 und)

Pristiophoridae – (saw sharks)

Family Pristiophoridae

[Order Pristiophoriformes] saw sharks

Short, wide snout with lateral denticles; barbels

Lives near seabed 37-165m

Feeds on benthic organisms

Ovoviviparous, 4ft (122cm)

Southern coast of Australia

Order Squaliformes

[superorder squalomorphii] 6 Families, 22 Genus, 136 species

Centrophoridae – (gulper sharks)

Dalatiidae – (kitefin sharks)

Etmopteridae – (lantern sharks)

Oxynotidae – (roughsharks)

Somniosidae – (sleeper sharks)

Squalidae – (dogfish)

Family Centrophoridae

[Order Squaliformes] gulper sharks

Depressed snout, elliptical eyes

Lives near seabed - 100-1,600m

Feeds on small deep-water fish & inverts

Ovoviviparous, 5ft (150cm)

Found in Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Oceans

Family Dalatiidae

[Order Squaliformes] kitefin sharks

Short, rounded snout, large, greenish eyes

Lives near seabed 200-1800m

Feeds on fish, also inverts

Ovoviviparous, 6ft (180cm)

Found in warm temperate waters

Family Etmopteridae

[Order Squaliformes] lantern sharks

Small shark with elliptical eyes

Lives near seabed between 200-500m

Feeds on small fish, squid, crustaceans

Ovoviviparous, 2ft (60cm)

Found in Mediterranean & Atlantic

Family Oxynotidae

[Order Squaliformes] roughsharks

Tall, thick body, subtriangular cross-section

Lives on seabed 60-660m

Feeds on worms

Ovoviviparous, 5ft (150cm)

Found in Mediterranean & East Atlantic

Family Somniosidae

[Order Squaliformes] sleeper sharks

Cylindrical body, short, rounded snout

Lives near seabed 200-1,200m

Feeds on mammals, fish, benthic inverts

Ovoviviparous, 5-21ft (140-640cm)

Mediterranean & East Atlantic to Arctic &

Antarctic

Family Squalidae

[Order Squaliformes] dogfish

Small robust body, 2 dorsal fins with spines

Lives in moderate to deep water 200-3,675m

Feeds on fish; also crustaceans & squids

Ovoviviparous, 3-5ft (100-180cm)

Found in Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indo-Pacific

Order Squatiniformes

[Superorder Squatinomorphii] 1 Family, 1 genus, 25 species

Squatinidae – (angel sharks)

Temperate coastal, tropical bathyal

Family Squatinidae

[Order Squatiniformes] angel sharks

Depressed body, very wide head

Buries in seabed (150m)

Feeds on flatfish, crustaceans, mollusks

Ovoviviparous, to 6 ft (183cm)

Found in all seas